Using Animal Traction Technology on Rural Women Empowerment- Nuba Mountains

Abstract

Impact of Using Animal traction Tools Technology on Rural Women (Empowerment (Nuba Mountains Community Livelihoods and Rural Industry Support, (CLARIS) project in Nuba Mountains, introduced animal traction tools technology to increase agricultural output and improve the quality of life for rural Communities mainly the rural women in the area. The main objectives of the study are to identify the impact training of using the technology by the rural women in the study areas, as well as to assess effect of the technology on women’s empowerment interimsof extension service,credit,land tensure,,marketing facilities and practical in grass roots institution The field survey was carried in Dilling and Kadugli localities. (120) of the rural women in the study areas were selected from those who involved in the project training and using the implement after completing the training, beside that had completed training, there was(120) participants that did not attending training program session Data was collected using closed ended structured questionnaire. Data were organized, summarized, coded, and fed into the computer; statistical package for social science (SPSS) was used in data analysis. Descriptive analysis and Chi-Square to detect the differences between different groups of rural women in the selected area on different variable were also used. Significant level of 0.05 is used. The most important findings of the Study:- Result for the women who attended the training sessions and practicing the animal traction implementation: 1. (37%) revealed that formal credit is the only reasons prevent them from increasing their accessed lands. 2. (45%) of those whom interviewed replied that, they spent 5-7 hours per day in agricultural operation before possessing the animal traction implements. 3. The majority (41, 6%) answered that they only spent 3 hours to complete their cultivated areas compared to 3-6 hours before using the implements for the same areas. 4. (88.2%) of the rural women revealed that it was very easy to use the animal traction implements, compared to only (11, 8%) replied it was very difficult. V 5. (60%) of the women interviewed mentioned that, they make use of their own agricultural income, compared to (15.8%) replied that, they shared with their husbands, (15%) decision was taken by the husband, other in the family (9.2%). 6. (70%) of the rural women replied that , they have used the animal traction implements immediately after completing the training sessions , compared to (30%) replied no. 7. (37.6%) of the rural women revealed that, they received agricultural information at the village level, from agricultural extension offices, compared to (62.4%) not received any information. 8. (62.4%) of the participants, replied that, they absolutely could not afford to practice animal traction implements due to their high prices. 9. The majority of the participants (93.5%) replied that, no access to formal credit due to lack of collateral. 10. (71.2%) of the rural women revealed that, they were effectively participating in organizations with peace mandates, compared to 28.2%) answered no. 11. (60%) of the rural women participating in the project replied that, the use of animal traction implement increased their agricultural production, and compared with (20.4%) who revealed that it’s decreased their agricultural production. 12. (64.1%) of the respondent rural women, replied that, the use of animal traction improved their social status among their families to only (6.5%) replied no change. The most important recommendations: 1. Animal traction implements should be manufactured locally through providing financial and technical support by the Organization to the local rural men and women, as well as ensuring the availability of the spare parts. 2. Rural women agricultural – societies should be organized and encouraged at the village level as well as providing capacity building in areas of book keeping, principles and concepts of rural agricultural societies. 3. Linking local markets with big markets through improving the infrastructure (such as market information (prices), and communications). 4. Women should be trained in income – generating activities in the dry seasons. 5. More opportunities in animal traction training should be provided widely for rural women at the village level