FACTORS ACCOUNTING FOR WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN AGROFORESTRY IN JAMAN SOUTH DISTRICT, GHANA

Abstract

Women’s contributions to agroforestry are mostly overlooked in male dominated societies. This study assessed women’s participation in agroforestry practice, the socio-economic factors influencing their participation and stakeholder involvement for improving their participation in the Jaman South District. A concurrent mixed method approach, combing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data collection using household questionnaires survey, key informant interviews, and focused group discussions. A total of 204 women farmers were randomly selected from four communities for the study. Data was analysed using index of participation, correlation analysis and multinomial logistic regression and presented descriptively using tables and charts. The study revealed that majority (85.3%) of respondents were active in the practice of agroforestry. While agri-silviculture was identified as the main system of agroforestry, scattered trees on farmlands, alley cropping, Taungya and home-gardening were the agroforestry technologies practiced. Women’s participation was high in seed preparation (78%), sowing (92%), weeding (85%), harvesting (87%), drying (85%) and storage (82%) and low in spraying (33%). Only access to capital and credit (P=0.017) and extension services and information (P=0.019) were significant in influencing women’s practice of agroforestry. The study revealed further that women have easy access to land as majority (88.5%) owned the land on which they were farming through inheritance or ties with family. Whiles Drobo Community Bank Limited gives loans to farmers to enable them maintain and expand their farms to be able to get more produce, the Ministry of Food Agriculture had no arrangement in place to ensure women’s access to capital and credit. The study recommends that efforts should be made by the government to encourage the development of rural microcredit institutions with regulations friendly to women. MoFA should train volunteer extension officers, majority of whom should be women.