This study explores the lived experience of smallholder female headed households residing in the fogera woreda. Smallholder female headed households are women who practice activities like farming, livestock production and similar tasks with land size of less than 0.7 hectare. The goal of this research is to investigate the challenges facing smallholder female households, to explore the opportunities that enjoyed by smallholder female headed households, to identify the coping mechanisms utilized by rural smallholder female headed household to overcome their challenges and to identify the basic smallholder activities practiced by rural female headed households of the study site. In an effort to better understand the experience of the study population, a qualitative approach with phenomenological research designs were employed. In-depth interview was used as a main data collection tool. Seven single women who live in three kebeles were selected using purposive sampling technique and their sample size was determined based on data saturation point. As per the major findings of the study, being a smallholder female headed household has an opportunity of freedom, social maturity and positive self –concept. However, they have faced various obstacles which include lack of adequate access to support, lack of access to credit service, small land size and traditional tenure system, socio-cultural trials, lack of technology to ease their task and inflation with unbalanced market price between their product and inputs of farming. The study also found out that persistence, wise use of resources (saving), self-empowerment and strong self- esteem were the main strategies to cope with their problems. Based on the study findings the researcher concluded that smallholder female headed households in the study area have encountered triple burden and lead destitute life. Hence, it was recommended that local strategies that increase access by the female headed households to productive resources need to be designed and implemented to empower them and widen their opportunities. In addition humanitarian organizations and NGOs should look towards smallholder female headed households.