Determinants of Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture in Botswana: The Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI) Approach

Abstract

Women’s empowerment is recognised as a crucial strategy for the development of societies globally, particularly in agricultural sectors where empowering women can significantly contribute to poverty reduction. This study aimed to diagnose the status of the women empowerment and evaluate the influence of the small-stock package of the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) programme on women’s empowerment in the Central District of Botswana. A concurrent mixed-methods design was employed, collecting data from 370 women. The study utilised the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI) to measure empowerment as dependent variable. The regression analysis revealed farming settlement, household type, animal feeding regimes and the observability of the programme’s benefits were predictors of women empowerment in agriculture. The study recommends the adoption of a pluralistic extension system and the integration of gender-transformative approaches by the Ministry of Agriculture to enhance the impact of such programmes and enhance the level of women empowerment in agriculture.