Summary This paper investigates whether preference heterogeneity between spouses contributes to limited cash crop production in Southern Ethiopia. Using the value of livestock each spouse would take in the event of divorce as a measure of bargaining power; this paper shows a significant negative correlation between the bargaining power proxies and coffee output. Livestock ownership during marriage does not have a significant impact on coffee production. In contrast to the case in commercial production, women’s exit options have a weak, positive effect on production of the staple crop, enset.