Assessment of the Impact of Providing Microfinance on Women Farmers in South Kordofan, Sudan

Womens poverty is directly related to the absence of economic opportunities and lack of access to economic resources, including credit and land ownership. Also lack of access to education and support services and their minimal participation in the decision making process. This papers aim is to develop a detailed description of socio economic characteristics, farming system and agricultural processes for women farmers. It also aims to assess the effect of microfinance program in South Kordofan on improving the production and standard of living of women farmers. To achieve the objectives of this paper South Kordofan was selected as the location of the study and South Kordofan Rural Development Program was used as case study. The paper used primary data collected through questionnaires, and secondary data from reviewing the literature and other available data from various resources. The study was based on a survey carried out during the period October-November 2007 covering 120 respondents. Women farmers in South Kordofan produce very little in spite of their hard work and tough agricultural activities. The cultivation and amount of production are affected by the availability of fund. Women farmers lack access to financial services especially credit, which leads to low productivity and reflect on the poor standard of their living. The study found that the access to finance increase the total production of women farmers, and improve their families, nutrition, education, sanitation and standard of living. Women farmers also prove that they are good clients in repaying loans on time.