ASSESSING THE LAND USE PRACTICES PROBLEM OF WOMEN: A CASE STUDY FROM ARBEGONA WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In Ethiopia, rural women do not have equitable land use right, due to domination of traditional perception and attitude among the society. This study was designed to assess the land use practices problem of women: a case study from Arbegona Woreda Sou thern Ethiopia. In the Arbegona Woreda land use practices problem of women was highly biased by domination of socio-cultural practices and attitude. In order to address the problems, quantitative and qualitative data was collected, through sample selection. The sample was selected firstly classifying the studied Woreda’s according to its agro-ecological zone through using stratified sampling technique. Through the classification, 23 Kebeles located highland, 12 Kebeles located midland and 3 Kebeles are located between highland and midland agro-ecological zone then to the sample 6 Kebeles from highland, 1Kebele is selected between midland and highland agro-ecological zone by using random sampling technique. Finally sample household heads were selected through systematic sampling technique. Study findings reveal that women’s right to land use practices was affected by personal and economic, traditional practices and missing implementation of land policy. In the study area there was low women participation in decision making in land. The gender bias on land use practices was resulted women to adverse effect such as food insecurity and low income, subordination on husband property, early marriage and migration to urban area. Finally, this study forwards solutions to address gender gaps identified to ensure women’s equal land use practices in the study area.