The Role of Women in the Management and Utilization of Home Garden: The Case of Dale District, in Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in three Kebeles in Dale district, Southern Ethiopia, namely: Tula, Debub Mesenkela and Debub Kege, to describe and analyze the different roles of women in home garden management and utilization. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select sample households and the methods that were employed for data collection were questionnaire survey and home garden visit and measurement. Ninety (90) households were interviewed and data were analyzed in descriptive manner by using SPSS version 16. In the study area, the average land holding of male headed households was higher than female headed households. The home gardens provide numerous economical and ecological services. Male headed household allocated larger area for cash crops while female headed households allocate for food crops. The study have explicitly shown that in male headed household land preparation, seed preservation for major crops, planting activities (sowing), application of organic fertilizer, watering and harvesting participation of men was higher than women. Women do the planting activity for fruit and vegetables, manuring, harvesting, storage, transportation and marketing of home garden products except for cash crops. In female headed household women was participated in all activities. Most of the decision in male headed households regarding the production and marketing of vegetables (72%) and root crops (75%) is done by women. Men alone decided 85% in cereal and pulse, 62% in cash crops, 92% in fodder and forage, and 60% in livestock particularly in large animals. But in female headed household’s decision on consumption and marketing of all products were made by women. Therefore, the study recommends increasing the benefits from home gardens, access to resources, education, extension, information, training, credit service and appropriate technologies need to be improved. Policies and strategies need to be developed to enhance the benefits of home gardens to both female and male headed households