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† Corresponding author 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 

PERCEPTION OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN AGRICULTURAL 

EXTENSION IN FOGERA WOREDA, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA 

 

Azanaw Abebe1 --- Merkuz Abera2 
1Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Program of Rural Development and 

Agricultural Extension, Ethiopia 

2Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Program of Plant Science, Ethiopia 

 

ABSTRACT 

Gender is a key analytic category for understanding global economic processes and gender mainstreaming is 
the core strategy to eliminate gender inequalities. Despite the increasing appreciation of gender and gender 
mainstreaming which is decisive for women and men equal participation in development, the concept of 
gender mainstreaming is not always understood in the same fashion. Perception of gender mainstreaming 
by various community members in the agriculture sector is not known. This study was designed to heave 
light on the perception gender concern in Agricultural sector which include workers and farmers. Two stage 
sampling procedure was employed to select 4 Peasant Associations (PA’s) out of 27 PA’s in the Woreda and 
140 sample households from these 4 PA’s using simple random sampling techniques. In addition, 22 
Agriculture and Rural Development workers were selected by using simple random sampling methods 
irrespective of sex. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were described, 
interpreted and appreciated. Likert type scales were developed to measure both types of perceptual statements. 
The findings indicated that lack of clear ideas on the concepts of gender and gender mainstreaming among 
Agricultural and Rural Development workers. There was a significant difference between farmers and 
Agricultural and Rural Development workers regarding their perception towards gender and gender 
mainstreaming, moderately female farmers have higher degree of perception than male farmers in rural 
areas. Relatively female workers have higher degree of perception than male workers in Agricultural and 
Rural Development workers. Agricultural and rural development workers and farmers in general should be 
exposed to intensive gender sensitization and training on improving outreach to female farmers. 

Keywords: Gender equality, Participation, Perception, Agriculture and rural development 

workers, Male headed households, Female headed households, Likert type scales, gender analysis. 

 

Contribution/ Originality 

 This study contributes in the existing literature to fill the gap of the current state of 

knowledge of the perception of gender mainstreaming in agricultural sector.  

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 
2014 Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 21-34 
ISSN(e): 2312-6418 
ISSN(p): 2313-3716 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 
 
 
 



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© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

1. INTRODUCTION 

1.1. Background of the Study 

A great deal of human behavior is not the result of individual preferences. Rather, it is 

governed by institutional rules, norms and conventions that have powerful material effects on 

people’s lives [1]. Gender mainstreaming was recognized as a global strategy for the promotion 

of gender equality in the Platform for Action from the Fourth World Conference on Women in 

Beijing, 1995.  

Agricultural productivity may be constrained or enhanced by the interaction between policy 

and the gender division of labor and control over productive resources [2]. Therefore, gender 

mainstreaming in agriculture being the core area of national interest, strategic researches are 

formulated to suggest changes in the structure and functioning of different development 

organization for gender mainstreaming[3]. Gender needs to be mainstreamed in agricultural 

policy, research, extension and training by developing skills in gender analysis. The gender issues 

need to be addressed [3]. 

Perception is what our senses feed to our consciousness. But sometimes our minds do not 

grasp everything our senses feed us, only because we were not paying attention, or because we do 

not have enough prior knowledge to make sense of our perceptions [4].Training and awareness-

building for decision-makers on gender sensitive are the fundamental issue to change mentalities 

and raise collective awareness. Moreover, even among persons who are aware of and open to 

these questions, a great need is felt for explanations on and clarification of the concept and also 

for training on the methods and means for moving on from deliberations to action[5]. 

Gender inequality often manifests itself in the form of differential access to resources and 

opportunities [6]. The accumulated empirical evidence demonstrates the centrality of gender 

equality for equitable and sustainable development and poverty reduction [7]. This call for the 

incorporation of gender in the formulation of policies at the macro and sectoral levels, 

expenditure allocations as well as monitoring and evaluation [8].  

Gender mainstreaming is the core strategy to eliminate gender inequalities, which in turn 

helps to ensure sustainable development in a given country [9]. The perception of an individual 

towards any strategy, policy, approach, process, program and project exerts a significant influence 

upon his participations in the activity. The strategy like gender mainstreaming cannot be taken 

up successfully without assuring participation of the government and nongovernmental 

sectors/organization, and the community members in general. Experiences have shown that the 

person having favorable perception towards an object reflects a cumulative effect in terms of 

favorable reactions. In social research, perception of a person or group towards social or 

psychological object is of prime importance.  

Currently, there is rich and extensive documentation and literature that deal with gender 

issues. There is no doubt that gender is on the national agenda.  By and large the success or 

failure of gender in agricultural sector depends largely on the perception of gender 

mainstreaming by agricultural and rural development office workers, as well as community 

members (male and female farmers). And to what extent gender is perceived at a grassroots’ level, 



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particularly in government organizations are important questions that need further investigation 

through research. 

 

1.2. Statement of the Problem 

Gender inequality is among the structural inequalities that wear away human development 

[10]. Social perceptions are built up over time and are entrenched deeply in values and norms. 

Cultural tradition plays a significant role in the responsibilities of women and men in society. For 

a long time the point of view of a large number of men looked down on women as the weaker sex. 

Today the status of women has been raised to have equal rights with men in national society, but 

this fact has still not been perceived widely by men yet. Some men still believe that a woman’s 

role is in the kitchen and if a woman has a higher position than a man, then that man has a low 

status amongst his peers [11]. 

One challenge faced in mainstreaming gender is that many people do not yet understand 

gender issues in the agriculture sector. As a provincial officer in a workshop shared, “We do not 

understand exactly what gender mainstreaming is. We have high respect for women in our 

families, but still continually hear this same message about women’s work” [11]. 

 Considerable efforts were made through several initiatives and undertakings for the 

implementation of gender mainstreaming at various levels and at different places, in terms of 

raising awareness, generating political will and training. But the concept of gender 

mainstreaming is not always understood in the same fashion. Depending on the nature of the 

responsibilities held: although the concept as a whole is properly understood by persons in charge 

of equal opportunities, by persons whose duties include the formulation of employment policies at 

national central level (or regional level in certain countries with highly decentralized political 

structures) and particularly by persons who have been directly exposed to Community-level 

problems in this area, other persons still often have only vague ideas and do not really distinguish 

the concept from the more general issue of progress towards equality at work. Sometimes the 

concept is misunderstood and regarded as being the same as positive discrimination [5]. 

Despite the increasing appreciation of gender mainstreaming which is decisive for women 

and men equal participation in development, there is inappropriate perception of the term gender 

and currently there is no study concerning perception of gender in agricultural sectors. 

There is a need for locally specific information regarding perception of gender in the 

agricultural sector for implementing different programs that address the specific needs of both 

men and women as farmers, in Fogera Woreda, to fill the research gap. 

 

1.3. Objectives of the Study 

The specific objectives are: 

1. To assess the perception of gender concern at agricultural and rural development office 

and at farmer level. 

 



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2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 

2.1. Description of the Study Area 

Fogera District is located in the northern part of the country especially lying between 110
,440 

and 120
,030  N latitude and between 370, 250 and 370, 580 E longitude in the Amhara National 

Regional State in South Gonder  Zone, which is one of the Woredas in the region. The Woreda 

center is Woreta, which is situated at south of 42 kilometers from the capital of the zone 

Debretabore and 55 kilometers from the regional capital city Bahir Dar in the North East 

direction. The district comprises of 27 Kebeles (lower administrative units) with an area of 

1124.14 square km or 117,405 hectares. 

FDREPCC [12] indicated that the total population size of the woreda is about 203,000 

people, out of which 104,000  and 99,000 are male and female, respectively.  

 

2.2. Sampling Technique 

The study employed a two-stage random sampling technique. In the first stage sampling, 

from the whole peasant associations (PA’s) in the Woreda four PA’s were selected by using simple 

random sampling technique. In the second stage sampling, 140 respondents were selected by 

using simple random sampling method from among the PA’s, by considering the objectives of the 

study, and representativeness of the sample. 

Then sampling the household heads in each PA’s was stratified into Female headed 

households (FHH) and Male headed households (MHH) in which 70 MHH, 28 FHH (purposive 

inclusion of at least 20% FHH, in the sample) and 42 females from male headed households. In 

addition to the above respondents, 22 Agriculture and Rural Development workers were selected 

by using simple random sampling methods irrespective of sex.  

 

2.3. Data Type and Data Sources 

Data collected for this research were quantitative and qualitative in nature. Hence, both 

primary and secondary data sources were used. The primary data sources were from male headed 

households, female headed households and married women or women in male headed households, 

and Agricultural and Rural Development workers. The secondary data sources were from 

strategic plan of agricultural and rural development office, prepared annual plan and report of 

Agricultural and Rural Development office. 

 

2.4. Methods of Data Collection 

Quantitative data were collected through personal interviews from farmers. Questionnaires 

were used for Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development office workers. The respondents were 

interviewed using a pre-tested interview schedule and questionnaires which contained 

measurement tools of perceptual items.   

For face validity of the interview schedule and questionnaires, the researcher has made all the 

necessary precautions. For content validity a panel of three experts drawn from Bahir Dar 



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University, Women Affairs Bureau, and Office of Agriculture and Rural Development of Fogera 

Woreda evaluated the questionnaires and interview schedule. 

2.5. Methods of Data Analysis 

Following the completion of the data collection, the data were coded and entered into 

Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 16) computer program for analysis.  

 

2.5.1. Perception Measurement-Likert Scale 

Likert scale is widely used to measure in behavioral research for developing a perception 

scale. This method helps the researcher in the development of the right perception scale. The 

scale was constructed through the following steps: 

A large number of items were collected, selected and distributed among the social scientists, 

to comment whether the statements are capable of measuring the perception of farmers and 

Agricultural and Rural Development Workers (ARDO) on gender. The statements were then 

screened, modified, revised and edited in accordance with the feedback.  

Twelve items were developed to test respondents’ perception of gender and gender 

mainstreaming. These items were distributed among the social scientists, to comment whether 

the statements are capable of measuring the perception of farmers and Agricultural and Rural 

Development workers /ARDO/ on gender and gender mainstreaming. 

Reliability analysis was undertaken for all statements to see the degree of scale reliability of 

each perception statements and to determine a potential item which influences respondents' 

perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming. The alpha ( ) level of all statements is 

0.574. All items with a value of greater than 0.574 were dropped as they are not reliable to 

estimate respondents' perception. 

From the total twelve statements, four statements were found with alpha value of greater 

than 0.574. Hence, these four statements were dropped and the remaining eight reliable 

statements were used to interview and analyze respondents' perception towards gender and 

gender mainstreaming. 

The type of reliability analysis was item score total correlation matrix(r) and Crounbach 

[13] Crounbach’s Alpha (α),   

 

The formula for Crounbach’s Alpha (α), was  

Alpha (α) =
 

   
[  

∑   
  

   

  
 ] 

Where   

      α =the coefficient of reliability of crounbach 

      K=number of item in scale 

∑   
  

   =the sum of the variance of each item. 

  
 =   the variance of each score 





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This was measured using Likert scale. The measurement was done between Agricultural and 

Rural Development office workers and farmers, between male and female farmers, and finally 

between male and female Agricultural and Rural Development workers.  

Perception scale was constructed with five (5) points response categories that is (1) -Totally 

disagree   (2) - Partly disagree   (3)-Neither agree nor disagree (indifferent) (4) - Partly agree (5) - 

Totally agree. The respondents were asked to react to each of the statement of scale in terms of 

their own agreement or disagreement with the statement. After score were assigned to each 

statement a total perception was computed for each subject by simply adding the score earned by 

each individual on each item.  

Finally, by summing up the mean value of each item, the perception was coded with positive 

and negative values towards the perception object. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics 

such as mean, standard deviation, percentages and frequency. Mean comparison methods (t-test 

and z-test) were also used to explain the perception of respondents towards each object. 

Descriptive tools were complemented by qualitative analytical methods (mainly for those 

data acquired through the participatory/ qualitative methods) like interpretation and explanation 

of various opinions, views and concepts of the statements.  

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

3.1. Perception of Gender Concern at Agricultural and Rural Development Workers and 

Farmers 

Perception in this study was defined as a complex process by which individuals attach 

meanings to incoming stimuli. Agricultural and Rural Development workers and farmers who 

perceive the incidence and consequences of gender/gender mainstreaming as convenient to 

his/her work was likely to adopt and extend these practices than those who do not have such 

perception. 

 

3.1.1. Perception of Farmers and Agricultural Workers toward Gender and Gender 

Mainstreaming 

The evidenced responses were counted and converted into mean scores for each perceptual 

statement and were accorded rank accordingly. The rank correlations were calculated between 

the ranks accorded by the respondents with their respect to perception towards gender and 

gender mainstreaming; t - test was applied to see the significance of variation. The total 

respondents were farmers 140 and ARDO workers 22. To get an overview of the degree of 

perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming the farmers and ARDO workers are 

grouped into three categories namely: 1. Less favorable (below 17), 2. Favorable (17 to 27) and 

3.More favorable (above 27). The groups were formed on the basis of calculated mean score and 

standard deviation of the overall perception score obtained by the farmers and ARDO workers as 

a whole. The distribution of respondents in each group under both the category of respondents is 

given in Table 1. 



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It is evident that just about half of the respondents 81(50%) were reported from the category 

of favorable perception. Whereas 47(29.1%) respondents were placed in more favorable while 

34(20.9%) could be placed in less favorable perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming. 

This revealed that most farmers and ARDO workers were in the middle perception of gender and 

gender mainstreaming. 

It is interesting to note that equal number 50 percent of ARDO workers and farmers were 

reported in the medium perception group. It was further noted that 25.7 percent farmers and 50 

percent ARDO worker respondents fell in the category of more favorable perception, while 24.3 

percent of farmer respondents found in the category of less favorable perception toward gender 

and gender mainstreaming. An observation of data further indicates that ARDO worker 

respondents had comparatively higher positive degree of perception toward gender and gender 

mainstreaming than farmers. 

 

Table-1. Distribution of sample respondents (ARDO workers and farmer’s) on the basis of their 

perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming 

Degree of 
perception 

Farmers(140) Workers(22) Total 

 F % F % F % 
Less favorable 34 24.3   34 20.9 
Favorable 70 50 11 50 81 50 

More favorable 36 25.7 11 50 47 29.1 
Total 140 100 22 100 162 100 

Source: own survey result, 2010       F=frequency   %=percentage 

 

Table 2 visualized the perception of farmers and ARDO workers towards gender and gender 

mainstreaming. It was perceptible from the data that, knowledge about gender and gender 

mainstreaming was important for the two sexes in order to implement gender equality. Further, 

the two groups reflect their positive agreement towards the statement the necessity of knowledge 

of gender and gender mainstreaming for the two sexes. 

The statement on gender mainstreaming was important for gender equality had positive 

agreement by the two categories. The reflection of this positive agreement might be, the 

respondent determined that the strategy gender mainstreaming have acceptable process and 

activities to confirm gender equality and registered important contribution in access to and 

control over resources and the implementation of affirmative action. 

It was remarkable to note that both farmers and ARDO workers had disagreement with the 

statement that women and men had equal right in decisions about agricultural extension 

activities. This disagreement was noticeable since the participation of women in extension 

planning, training, demonstration was very minimal.  

Table 3 revealed that the calculated t value (4.5) was significant at 5 percent level and hence, 

it was concluded that there was a significant difference between farmers and ARDO worker 

respondents regarding their perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming. 



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3.1.2. Perception of Gender and Gender Mainstreaming Among Women and Men Farmers 

The researcher’s next discussion laid on the perception between women farmer respondents 

and men farmer respondents on gender and gender mainstreaming. The evidenced responses 

were counted and converted into mean scores for each perceptual statements and were ranked 

accordingly. Z- test was applied to see the significance of variation. To get an overview of the 

degree of perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming the respondents were grouped in 

to three categories namely: 1. Less favorable (below 17), 2. Favorable (17 to 27) and 3.More 

favorable (above 27). 

The groups were formed on the basis of calculated mean score and standard deviation of the 

overall perception score obtained by the farmers as a whole. The distribution of respondents in 

each group under both category of respondents is given in Table 4. 

Table-2. Distribution of sample respondents per rating of gender and gender mainstreaming 

No    Items developed Farmers(140) ARDO 
workers(22) 

Total 

  mean rank mean rank mean rank 
1 Knowledge about gender and gender 

mainstreaming is important for women 
and men. 

4.0 1 4.3 1 4.15 1 

2 Gender mainstreaming is important for 
gender equality. 

2.78 3 4.2 2 3.49 3 

3 Gender inequality is one of the means of 
poverty 

2.1 6 4.3 1 3.2 4 

4 Women and men have to participate 
equally in every aspect of development 
activity 

2.0 7 1.5 7 1.75 8 

5 The implementation of gender 
mainstreaming in agricultural extension is 
the responsibility of government 

2.2 5 3.9 3 3.05 6 

6 Gender division of labor at household 
activity should be eliminated. 

3.4 2 3.8 4 3.6 2 

7 Women and men have equal right in 
decisions about agricultural extension 
activities. 

2.2 5 1.86 6 2.03 7 

8 Gender differences should exist in terms 
of availability and use a new technology 

2.6 4 3.54 5 3.07 5 

Source: own survey result, 2010 

 

Table-31. Difference between farmers and ARDO workers regarding their perception towards 

gender and gender mainstreaming 

Perception towards gender and gender 
mainstreaming 

Farmers(140) ARDO 
workers(22) 

t   
 value 

Sig 
 

 
 

SD 
 

SD   

Perception of farmers and ARDO workers 23.0 4.0 27.1 4.4 4.5 ** 

X  =mean   SD=standard deviation, **, statistically significant at 5% probability level.  

Source: own survey result, 2010 

 

X X



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As it could be observed from the data in Table 4, 50 percent of the respondents were placed 

in the category of favorable perception, whereas virtually 25.7 percent located in the category of 

more favorable and 24.3 percent found to be in the class of less favorable perception on gender 

and gender mainstreaming. This revealed that the two groups were in the middle perception of 

gender and gender mainstreaming.  

It is crucial to point out that 32.9 percent of female and 18.7 percent of male farmer 

respondents reported in more favorable perception. It was also observed that 41.4 percent of 

female and 58.5 percent of male farmer respondents located in the group of favorable perception 

while 25.7 percent of female and 22.8 percent of male farmers were located in the category of less 

favorable perception on gender and gender mainstreaming. 

From the data it was possible to conclude that comparatively female farmers have higher 

degree of perception than male farmers in rural areas in the study woreda. While male farmers 

were felt in the middle category more than female farmers. 

 

Table-4. Distribution of sample respondents on the basis of their perception on gender and 

gender mainstreaming 

Degree of 
perception 

Female farmers(70) Male farmers(70) Total 

 F % F % F % 

Less favorable  18 25.7 16 22.8 34 24.3 
Favorable  29 41.4 41 58.5 70 50 
More favorable  23 32.9 13 18.7 36 25.7 
Total 70 100 70 100 140 100 

Source: own survey result, 2010       F=frequency          %=percentage 

 

Table 5 depicted that women and men farmers have similar and strong agreement on the 

importance of the knowledge of gender and gender mainstreaming. On the contrary the two 

groups disagree that gender inequality is the means of poverty. This reflection might be the 

result of lack of awareness for the respondents how gender inequality can be a cause of poverty. 

The item women and men have to participate equally in every aspect of development activity, 

female and male farmers responded negatively. This reflection might be the expectation that 

women have low self-confidence, mostly as a result of a low level of education and a lack of 

experience. Gender biases and cultural constraints hinder women not only to develop their 

experiences in public life but also to occupy public decision-making positions.  

It was important to illustrate that the two categories had strong agreement in the statement 

gender division of labor at household level must be eliminated. This reflection might be farmers 

have got awareness about gender division of labor. But the statement women and men have equal 

right in decisions about agricultural activities, they pointed out a different response. Females’ 

farmers did not reflect agreement and it might be the existing cultural background prevents them 

to participate equally in decision of agricultural activities. 

 



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Table-5. Distribution of sample respondents (male and female farmer’s respondents) on the basis 

of their perception per rating of gender and gender mainstreaming 

No Items developed Male 
farmers(70) 

Female 
farmers(70) 

    Total 

  Mean Rank Mean Rank Mean Rank 

1 Knowledge about gender and gender 
mainstreaming is important for women 
and men 

3.7 1 3.9 1 3.8 1 

2 Gender mainstreaming is important for 
gender equality. 

2.8 3 2.81 4 2.8 4 

3 Gender inequality is one of the means of 
poverty 

2.1 6 1.9 7 2.0 7 

4 Women and men have to participate 
equally in every aspect of development 
activity 

2.0 7 1.8 8 1.9 8 

5 The implementation of gender 
mainstreaming in agricultural extension 
is the responsibility of government 

2.5 5 2.4 6 2.45 6 

6 Gender division of labor at household 
activity should be eliminated. 

3.5 2 3.05 3 3.27 2 

7 Women and men have equal right in 
decisions about agricultural extension 
activities. 

2.8 3 3.3 2 3.05 3 

8 Gender differences should exist in terms 
of availability and use a new technology 

2.6 4 2.54 5 2.57 5 

Source: own survey result, 2010   

 

Table 6 revealed the calculated Z value (1.0) was non significant, hence it was concluded that 

there was no a significance difference between female and male farmer respondents regarding 

their perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming. 

 

Table-6. Difference between female and male farmers regarding their perception towards gender 

and gender mainstreaming 

Perception towards gender and gender 
mainstreaming 

Male 
farmers(70) 

  Female    
farmers(70) 

Z -  
value 

 
sig 

Perception of female and male farmers 
 

SD 
 

SD   
NS 

21.8 5.4 22.8 5.9 1.0 

X  =mean   SD=standard deviation, NS-statistically not significant at 5% probability level  

Source: own survey result, 2010 

 

3.1.3. Perception of Male and Female Agricultural and Rural Development Workers on 

Gender and Gender Mainstreaming 

Pertaining to the perception of female ARDO workers and male ARDO workers on gender 

and gender mainstreaming the results are presented underneath. The evidenced responses were 

counted and converted into mean scores for each perceptual item and were ranked accordingly. t- 

X X



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test was applied to see the significance of variation. To get an overview of the degree of 

perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming ARDO workers were grouped into three 

categories namely: 

 1. Less favorable (below 23); 2. Favorable (23 to 31 ) and 3. More favorable (above 31). 

The groups were formed on the basis of calculated mean score and standard deviation of the 

overall perception score obtained by the workers as a whole. The distribution of respondents in 

each group under both categories of respondents is given in Table 7. 

It was appealing to make a note from the data in Table 7 that 18.2 percent of respondents 

were reported from the category of favorable perception. Whereas 59.1 percent of respondents 

located in the group of more favorable category while 22.7 percent fell in the class of less 

favorable perception on gender and gender mainstreaming. It was promising to see that 

moderately more than 50 percent of respondent had higher favorable perception towards to 

gender and gender mainstreaming. 

The table also revealed that 81.82 percent of female and 36.4 percent of male ARDO workers 

located in the category of more favorable perception. Whereas 9.09 percent of female and 36.4 

percent of male ARDO workers reported from the category of less favorable perception, while 

9.09 percent of female and 27.2 percent of male ARDO workers could be found in the group of 

favorable perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming. From the data it was possible to 

conclude that comparatively female workers have higher degree of favorableness in perception 

than male workers in ARDO in the Woreda.  

 

Table-7. Distribution of sample respondents (male and female ARDO workers respondent) on 

the basis of their perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming 

Degree of 
perception 

Female ARDO workers Male ARDO workers Total 

 F % F % F % 

Less favorable  1 9.09 4 36.4 5 22.7 
Favorable  1 9.09 3 27.2 4 18.2 
More favorable  9 81.82 4 36.4 13 59.1 
Total 11 100 11 100 22 100 

      Source: own survey result, 2010 F=frequency   %=percentage 

 

Table 8 divulged that ARDO workers reflect strong agreement in the item knowledge about 

gender and gender mainstreaming was important for the two sexes; the reflection might be from 

the understanding that it was important to aware about gender and gender mainstreaming in 

order to implement gender and gender mainstreaming. Correspondingly ARDO workers 

expressed their perception in a strong agreement that gender inequality was one of the means of 

poverty and Women and men have to participate equally in every aspect of development activity 

this reflection implies that by implementing gender equality some aspect of poverty might be 

decreased. The ARDO workers have good information about the consequences of gender 

inequality. 



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Gender mainstreaming is important for gender equality: in this statement male and female 

agricultural and rural development workers reflect a strong agreement that gender 

mainstreaming was important to confirm gender equality at every aspect of development. The 

response of this might be there were some improvements in the organization to implement some 

elements of gender mainstreaming such as affirmative action. 

Female and male Agricultural and Rural Development workers strongly suggest their 

agreement that government was/ is responsible for the implementation of gender mainstreaming  

in agricultural extension, this reflection might originate from the workers understanding that 

gender mainstreaming involve political commitments, then if government was committed to 

implement, the other stakeholders would follow. Likewise it was interesting to note that the two 

groups (women and men ARDO workers) strongly agreed in the statement women and men 

farmers had equal right in decisions about agricultural extension activities. This reflection might 

be from the understanding that women and men farmers were equally affected by agricultural 

extension activities; therefore the decisions on agricultural extension activities were prime 

importance. 

Table 9, revealed that the calculated t-test value (1.71) was non-significant. Hence, it was 

concluded that there was no a significance difference between female and male ARDO worker 

respondents regarding their perception towards gender and gender mainstreaming. 

 

Table-8. Distribution of sample respondents (female and male ARDO workers) per rating of 

gender and gender mainstreaming 

No Items developed Female 
workers’(11) 

Male 
workers(11) 

Total(22) 

  Mean Rank Mean Rank Mean  Rank 
1 Knowledge about gender and gender 

mainstreaming is important for women and 
men. 

4.0 1 3.90 1 3.95 1 

2 Gender mainstreaming is important for 
gender equality. 

3.2 3 2.8 5 3.0 6 

3 Gender inequality is one of the means of 
poverty 

4.0 1 3.9 1 3.95 1 

4 Women and men have to participate 
equally in every aspect of development 
activity 

3.0 5 3.1 4 3.05 4 

5 The implementation of gender 
mainstreaming in agricultural extension is 
the responsibility of government. 

3.8 2 3.9 1 3.85 2 

6 Gender division of labor at household 
activity should be eliminated. 

3.1 4 3.8 2 3.45 3 

7 Women and men have equal right in 
decisions about agricultural extension 
activities. 

3.1 4 3.3 3 3.2 5 

8 gender differences should exist in terms of 
availability and use a new technology 

2.9 6 2.8 5 2.85 7 

Source: own survey result, 2010 



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Table-9. Paired difference between female and male ARDO workers regarding their perception 

towards gender and gender mainstreaming 

Perception towards gender and gender 
mainstreaming 

Female 
workers(11) 

Male 
workers(11
) 

t-test sig 

 
 

SD 
 

SD   

Perception of female and male ARDO workers 28.6 3.8 25.7 4.7 1.71 NS 

NS, statistically not significant at 5% probability level,  =mean   SD=standard deviation    

Source: own survey result, 2010. 

 

4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 

4.1. Conclusion 

The Ethiopian government is a signatory to various international policies to implement 

gender equality and has developed national policies on women and enshrined development 

strategies with the intention of gender equality.  

Understanding people’s perception on gender issue is a key step towards addressing gender 

inequalities. By and large, the success or failure of gender mainstreaming strategy in agricultural 

sector depends largely on the perception of farmers and Agricultural and Rural Development 

workers. In view of this an observation of data between farmers and Agricultural and Rural 

Development workers exposed that ARDO workers had comparatively higher positive degree of 

perception toward gender and gender mainstreaming than farmers, moderately female farmers 

have higher degree of perception than male farmers in rural areas in the study Woreda. And 

finally relatively female workers have higher degree of perception than male workers in ARDO in 

the woreda.  

 

4.2. Recommendation 

It is important to focus on the goal of gender equality and not simply to identify women as a 

"special group“ or included by a general statement, but discover what is required for more 

actively promoting gender equality in the agricultural sector . 

Expose all extension officers and development agents to gender sensitization and 

mainstreaming strategies, which should be supported by comprehensive practical training as well 

as monitoring their performance for adequate outreach to women farmers. 

 

5. REFERENCES 

[1] N. Kabeer, Gender mainstreaming in poverty eradication and the millennium development goals: New 

gender mainstreaming series on development issues, a handbook for policy-makers and other stakeholders, 

commonwealth secretariat. Ottawa, on Canada K1G 3H9 (Canada), 2003. 

[2] L. Greenshields, Bruce, A. Bellamy, and Margot, Rural development growth and inequity, international 

association of agricultural economist: Gower Publishing Company Limited, 1983. 

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© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

[3] M. Rai, "Vision 2025, perspective plan," National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture 

(NRCWA), Bhubaneswar, New Delhi 110001, India, 2007. 

[4] E. J. Gould, "File: Documents: Bio psych: What is perception," 2003. 

[5] OPTEM, "Study on integrating gender mainstreaming into employment policies, covering public-

authority officials responsible for employment policies and social partners in the 15 member States 

of the European Union," 2002. 

[6] UNDP, "Learning manual and information pack on gender mainstreaming." Available  

www.undp.org/gender, 2001. 

[7] World Bank, Engendering development through gender equality in rights, resources and voice. New York: 

Oxford University Press (For the World Bank), 2001. 

[8] UNDP, "Assessment of gender mainstreaming and empowerment of women in Sub-Saharan 

Africa," A Review of UNDP Supported Activities UN HQs, New York, 2000. 

[9] MOWA, Women watch Ethiopia national action plan for gender equality 2006-2010. Addis Ababa: 

Final Draft, 2006. 

[10] A. Sen, Many faces of gender inequality. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. 

[11] UNIFEM, Progress of the world’s women. New York: UNIFEM, 2000. 

[12] FDREPCC, "Summary and statistical report of the 2007 population and housing census, 

population size by age and sex," Addiss Abeba, Ethiopia2008. 

[13] L. J. Crounbach, "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests," Psychometrika, vol. 16, pp. 

297-334, 1951. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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shall not be responsible or answerable for any loss, damage or liability etc. caused in relation to/arising out of the use of the content. 

 

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