Across the rural communities of Ethiopia’s Sidama Zone, a new generation of women farmers is emerging.
Rahel Getu is a 22-year-old married mother of two who farms a small plot of land in Tarmesa Kebele. The land is modest, just over one-tenth of a hectare, but Rahel saw its potential. She had the will to grow her farm, but not the means to do so. “We wanted to expand, but we lacked the capital,” she told us.
Through an initiative supported by Jersey Overseas Aid and implemented by Accion and agritech platform partner Lersha to build the resilience of women farmers, Rahel secured a loan to purchase vegetable seeds and fertilizers. Along with financing, she gained access to climate advisory services and market linkages through a Lersha agent. She also received guidance during account setup, financial training, and loan approval, as well as connections to structured buyers.
With these resources, Rahel is expanding her irrigation system, reinvesting her profits, and building a business of her own.
“A loan like this makes a significant contribution, especially for a young woman like myself,” she says.
Argaw Shab, a local Woreda Bureau representative of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, has witnessed this transformation firsthand. “Since this project began, we have seen real change,” he says. “Women who once stayed at home are now farming, earning income, and supporting their families. So far, more than 5,000 women farmers have registered in the region. They have received training on production techniques and gained access to agricultural inputs. For many, it’s the first time they have ever accessed agricultural loans.”
Lersha’s collaboration with the Ministry’s Woreda Bureaus is instrumental to its work on the ground. Through this partnership, local representatives like Argaw leverage their expertise and trusted relationships with farmers to help mobilize, support, and follow up with participants throughout project implementation. They coordinate activities with Lersha agents, support the delivery of digital services, and help build trust with farmers like Rahel, enabling Lersha to work more effectively in their communities. The impact of this collaboration is evident in the opportunities now available to women farmers.
“In the past, banks rarely lent to women farmers,” Argaw explains. “Today, these women farmers are using these loans to start and grow businesses,” he adds. The next step is connecting them to markets through new market-access initiatives with a range of partners.
The impact reaches beyond the fields. The project is changing community attitudes, too. More families are now supporting women’s participation in agriculture. Women are forming groups and working together to build stronger livelihoods. “This is more than farming,” Argaw told us. “It is about empowering women, increasing incomes, and transforming communities.”
Rahel and Argaw are part of a much larger picture. Agriculture remains the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy. It contributes nearly 35 percent to GDP, provides livelihoods for 80 percent of the population, and generates 90 percent of export revenue. Women play a central role, making up an estimated 47 percent of the rural labor force, a figure that continues to rise. Yet they still face unequal access to finance that could make their farms and agricultural businesses more productive.
Research shows that access to credit has a measurable impact on farming practices. An analysis of Ethiopian farming studies found that farmers with access to financing were 48 percent more likely to adopt contract farming than those without financing, largely because they could invest in better crop varieties and modern agricultural technologies they otherwise couldn’t afford. For women farmers who face even greater barriers to accessing credit, closing the gap can make a real difference.
For Rahel, access to financing has meant far more than the ability to buy seeds and fertilizer. It has enabled her to grow her income and invest in her family’s future. Her experience is an example of a shift taking place in communities like hers, as more women gain the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed as farmers and entrepreneurs. As initiatives to expand access to finance, training, and markets continue and scale, they are helping women like Rahel realize their potential and strengthen local economies. By investing in women farmers and supporting innovative agricultural finance solutions, partners throughout the ecosystem can help accelerate this progress, creating more opportunities across Ethiopia’s rural communities and more resilient women entrepreneurs.
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