Mainstreaming and revitalising women groups in agribusiness in rural Kenya through Microfinance

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to mainstream and revitalise women groups in small scale agriculture and business in Kenya. In terms of gender, this paper assumes that in Kenya, women are the majority involved in rural market economy at every shopping centre. Some of the women in the rural areas are widows, single mothers, separated and sole bread earners, yet disempowered economically. The objective of the study was to establish how women groups can be given focus as the main players in agribusiness in rural Kenya. This focus was embedded in the mitigation products of microfinance, which has proved worldwide to break shackles of poverty, and gender based cultural barriers that demean women. The aim was to empower rural women financially by sensitising them to access microfinance services; to expand their economic base in business and improve agricultural productivity. Data collection involved both primary and secondary sources. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used. Questionnaires, focus group discussions (FDG), and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Qualitative method of data analysis was used and data was synthesised thematically according to the study objectives. The use of quantitative analysis was mainly for illustrative purposes because the study was purely qualitative and descriptive in nature. The study found out that most women groups operate under financial and cultural constrains and needed more economic empowerment through micro finance to be effective.