Browsing by Author "Nikkinen, Hanne"

Many western people are unfamiliar with khat (Catha Edulis). In East-Africa khat is instead one of the most important cash crops. Khat is mildly narcotic and that's why it is nowadays much debated subject in research and politics. Even though there is much debate about khat East-African small farmers who are dependent on khat are often forgotten from the debate. Small farmers are important part of the khat production and that is why I decided to concentrate on socio-economic causes and consequences of the khat cultivation to small scale farmers. Previous studies show negative effects of khat cultivation to women. That is why I decided to look closer khat cultivation's effects to women. Research was done in two parts. First I explored the previous literature and after that I did collect data from Wondo genet, Ethiopia. Field work lasted 3 months. From the previous literature I made theoretical framework about khat cultivation's causes and consequences to farmers and women. After collecting data from the field I did compare how well theoretical framework describes reality in Wondo Genet area, Abaye.peasant association. For the comparison I did collect three interviews from official workers in Wondo Genet, ten thematic interviews from farmers, three group interviews from 24 women and 50 questionnaires. I used observation to give deeper insight. Because of the differences in spoken languages I had to use translator in interviews. I analyzed thematic interviews and group discussions with the help of type casting. Questionnaires I typed to SPSS and I analyzed materials with cross tabulations and correlations. Results from the research are partly in line with previous results, but there are also differences. Biggest reason to cultivate khat was that there is no other alternative. In Abaye khat is only plant that gives enough income for families to survive. This is because coffee price is too small and for other plants there aren't any functional transport networks. Previous studies say that khat is easy to handle. That is not true in Abaye. Questionnaires results tell that some parts khat is better than other plants, but other parts not. For example khat seedlings are easy to get. You can find them even for free. But khat is not as resistant for plant diseases as it has been said. Khat's effects are mainly positive. Previous studies say that khat use is common with farmers. This is not true in Abaye. There was together 87 interviews and only six people told that they use khat. Because of the limited use of khat, the negative effects of khat use where not present in research area. Attitude change to more positive direction tells the same story. Positive effects of khat cultivation, where better income than in other peasant associations and new business opportunities. It is said that khat cultivation has negative effect to women. In my research area this didn't seem to be true. Khat-trade did open new business opportunities for women and did make it easier to get loan, especially in Basha. Contradiction did concern mainly income distribution in family. In thematic interviews and group discussions women did say that men are using the khat money, but questionnaires did demonstrate that women have more money in their use than men have. Biggest expenditure for both men and women where food. It shows that men are taking part to cover the food costs. Because of the wide extent of the research results are not to be generalized. Results work best to describe the situation in the study area. Farmer's dependence on khat is high and because of that there is need to find new ways to help farmers to reduce the dependence. With comparing khat-producer areas and non-producer areas it might be possible to find those ways.