Determinants of Level of Women Participation in Urban Agriculture: The Case of Wolaita Sodo Town, Southern Region of Ethiopia

This study investigates determinants of the level of women participation in urban agriculture in Wolaita Sodo town. The study sampled 204 women respondents who have selected based on multi-stage sampling technique. The researcher employed with structured questionnaire in order to collect data from the participants. The study use econometrics and descriptive method of analysis. Tobit model is used to examine the determinants of level of women participation in urban agriculture, and also used descriptive method of analysis in order to measure and identify the extent of women participation in urban agriculture. The Tobit model result shows that age is negatively and significantly affect their participation, on the other hand the factors such as dependency ratio, having credit, extension worker contact, land ownership, neighbor influence, farm experience, and access to improve seed are positively and significantly affect the level of women participation in urban agriculture. From the descriptive method of analysis result 22% of women in the study area participate in urban agriculture and their extent of participation is on average 34.3% which is approximately constitutes; only 26.9% in crop production, only 25% in livestock, and 51.1% in both(crop and livestock) activities. Participant women averagely get an income of 557 birr/month from crop production, 3250 birr/month from livestock rearing, and 3392 birr/month from both(crop and livestock). This imply that based on the finding that government and non-government organization should pay due attention to create ample platform to allow women to participate in urban agriculture, wider community sensitization and awareness creation on the importance of urban agriculture for livelihood and economic security should be undergone and finally, policy makers have to give attention for agricultural activities not only in rural but also in urban area with gender sensitive approach. Keywords: Participation, Tobit model, Urban agriculture, Women