Women Farmers in Practices: Opportunities and Challenges in Accessing Potato Production Technologies in Welmera Ethiopia

Women farmer empowerment project was launched in the year 2006 to organize women farmers into Farmer Research Group (FRG) and improve their livelihood through accessing potato production technologies. Women farmers were targeted because they were disadvantaged with regards to this. Initially, 25 women farmers in Robi Gebeya kebele of Welmera district formed FRG. Consecutive trainings on potato production, gender roles and responsibilities, decision making, entrepreneur skills, among others were given to FRG. Each women farmer prepared and allocated 20 m×20 m plot of land for potato production. Initially Jalane potato variety with recommended packages was given to FRG, both Gudene and Jalene potato varieties were given in subsequent years. Five years data indicate that the number of women farmers who accessed potato technologies increased from 25 to 236. A total of 137 diffused light stores were constructed by women FRG which enabled them to store seed potato tubers. Women FRG reserved about 1,251 quintals of seed potato and made own plantation in consecutive years. In addition to own plantation, women FRG sold 2,521 quintals of both seed and food potatoes. During these years, price of food potato increased from 70 birr to 450 birr per quintal and that of seed potato increased from 180 birr to 600 birr per quintal. Women capacity building, bylaws formation and enforcement, knowledge and information sharing, spirit of competitiveness, accessibility, respect and patience, wisdom and interest, persuasiveness of other farmers were opportunities for women farmers. Difficulty to handle heavy duties, burden of workload, poor leadership and decision making ability, men influence over women intervention, prioritizing home activities and poor concept of entrepreneurship were among the challenges encountered. Further empowerment of women farmers through training on market outlet choices, home economics, entrepreneurship skills, facilitation, decision making and leadership capacity are potential areas for interventions.