FEMALE LAND OWNERSHIP, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, AND FOOD SECURITY: EVIDENCE FROM ETHIOPIA

The study examines the effect of female land ownership on agricultural practices and household food security in Ethiopia, using data from the Ethiopian Socioeconomic Panel Survey (ESPS 2021/22). The findings show that female land ownership positively influences both household food security and the adoption of agricultural practices, such as the use of synthetic fertilizer, crop rotation, and the use of improved maize seed. The effect was statistically significant when a woman in a household jointly owns land with male members. However, households where women are the sole landowners do not show better outcomes compared to those in which women do not own land at all.