Role of user organizations
Strategy to form farmers interest groups under ATMA, but low capacity to support group formation; cooperatives not inclusive (no farmers cooperatives and only 11 percent of dairy cooperatives had female chairs); some efforts to link agricultural services to women’s self-help groups. Targeting of beneficiaries Concentration on “leading farmers”; some schemes have provisions for members of SC/ST groups or households living below poverty line. Targets related to women
Strategy to form FBOs, but coverage is Farmer cooperatives have wide limited; existing groups focus on credit; coverage, do not provide extension men more likely than women to directly but are closely tied to belong to FBOs. “package approach”; cooperatives dominated by government and party influence; cooperative governing bodies are expected to include some women. Extension agents have to report number Concentration on “model farmers,” of male and female farmers met; who are expected to work with concentration on “award-winning” “followers”; incentive to work with farmers. farmers who can be signed up for packages.
Concentration on male heads of Extension agents report number of household; guidelines to involve female farmers met; WIAD with women under ATMA–funded activities dedicated staff in each district. (30 percent funds targeted to women).
Role of political representatives (long route) Involvement of political Block panchayat partly involved in representatives beneficiary selection; almost no involvement of gram panchayat; not foreseen under ATMA.
Cultural perception that “women do not farm” limits attention to women; EPRDF party philosophy promotes gender equity; local women’s associations, party women’s leagues, and women’s affairs officials work with extension agents to involve women in extension (“women’s development package”).
High level of integration: extension Decentralized in principle, but district team leader serves as agricultural assembly and district chief executive portfolio holder in kebele cabinet; not involved; may change if composite no political competition for election budget and Local Government Services of local councilors. are implemented. (continued)
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