Factors Determined Contribution of Female Framers to Household Food Security <br/>—A Study of Female Farmers in Northern Kordofan

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the role of female farmers in securing food for their households. The study targeted female farmers in North Kordofan state as the population of the study where 309 female farmers were selected by the use of multi stage stratified sample technique from five villages (Kazgail, Faris, Alebnoya, Shoshai and Fartangool), of Shiekan locality. Structured ques tionnaire was prepared and administered to the sampled respondents, by f ace-to-face interviews. Major features of socio-demographic profile of female farmers were the young age and high illiteracy rate with considerable number of female-headed household with high number of dependents. While 100% of female farmers practiced farming, 37.9% of them farming was the sole source of living while 62.1% in addition to farming had othe r sources of living secured. Were 98% of female are framers, they involved in full time farming while only 2% practiced par time farming . Subsistence farming was the main pattern of farming practiced by 95% of female farmers. Female farmers cultivated different types of crops (Millet, Sorghum, Sesame, Okra and beans) to satisfy the need of family consumption and to ensure household food security. 23.9% of female farmers cultivated their land alone without support from their families or hired labors. While 86.1 % received helped form members of their family labour Female farmers to secure food also supplied livestock and processed food. Female farmers interviewed were the principle producers of food in subsistence agriculture and providers of day-to-day family subsistence. Several types of agricultural tenure were available in the study area 72.8% of female farmers interviewed owned the land most of whom were originally from the area 7.1% of female farmers used community land and 6.6% used common land while 12.3% hired land. The study concluded that female farmers in the study areas played major roles in their households ” food security from production to consumption. It is worth mentioning that they are the backbone of small-scale agriculture, farm labor, and day-to-day family subsistence. So yet their contribution is uncountable, because of the subsistence nature of their work which is considered as invisible family production. In order to enhance women smallholder farmers’ efforts to achieve food security and sustainability, governments, farmers’ organizations, financial services providers, civil society organizations and other relevant bodies should work in collaboration to ensure the empowerment of female farmers .