Gender concerns in dairy husbandry

Gender concerns in dairy husbandry: 

Dr. P. Venu Madhav, MVSc Regional Animal Husbandry Training Centre, Visakhapatnam Gender concerns in dairy husbandry 2 Day Refresher training Extension approaches for augmenting milk production

Prologue: 

Prologue Livestock sector has numerous challenges Demand innovative & sustainable approaches Contribution of women in livestock rearing recognized Livestock is main income source for 100 million farmers

Prologue: 

Prologue Women contribute 70 to 80% of labor in livestock rearing Gender issues assume greater significance Emphasis on role of women in animal husbandry Most of livestock management is carried out by women

Access to Productive Resources: 

Access to Productive Resources Productive resources are integral to livelihood security Variation in access to productive resources needs to be corrected Natural capital (land, water, fodder & livestock) Physical capital (inputs, milk centers & markets) Human capital (labor, knowledge & extension)

Access to and control of land, livestock & other assets: 

Access to and control of land, livestock & other assets

Access to land, livestock & other assets: 

Access to land, livestock & other assets Mere ownership may not imply independence in decision making Existing socio-cultural policies limit land ownership Men credited with greater wisdom in finance matters Control over assets by men impeding women’s capacity Women empowerment effected

Access to land, livestock & other assets: 

Access to land, livestock & other assets Land is key for inputs, particularly credit Women often own smaller animals like small ruminants & poultry while large ruminants are owned by men Women generally do not have decision making power over income generated through livestock

Access to institutional credit: 

Access to institutional credit

Access to institutional credit: 

Access to institutional credit 1 million women benefited through SHGs Credit crucial to alleviate poverty Focus on credit needs of rural women important Land ownership is a critical factor, which determines access to credit Access to mainstream credit institutions limited for women

Access to institutional credit: 

Access to institutional credit Globally women are considered highly credit worthy 5 impediments to formal credit Institutional (cumbersome procedures, costs) Socio-cultural (taboos, norms, illiteracy, religion) Economic (risk, low yields, labor intensive) Attitudinal (prejudices, biases, misconceptions) Geographical (difficult terrain, distance, mobility)

Access to extension and service delivery: 

Access to extension and service delivery

Access to extension and service delivery: 

Access to extension and service delivery Gender segregated approach Formal extension services not reaching women farmers Traditional extension developed to serve male farmers Identified separate areas of expertize for men & women Ignored women’s contribution

Access to extension and service delivery: 

Access to extension and service delivery Women became an invisible workforce in livestock rearing Such oversight impairs extension services effectiveness Traditional service delivery mechanisms undermined role of women in livestock farming NGOs have flexibility but lack expertize & infrastructure

Access to extension and service delivery: 

Access to extension and service delivery Low scientific orientation is hindering in dissemination of technology Female extension personnel not effectively reaching rural poor City bred FEW not keen to operate in rural areas Insufficient field training & exposure Low level of participation & education further aggravating

Access to technology: 

Access to technology

Access to technology: 

Access to technology Technology needs of women not addressed Gender differentiated access in Hard technology (tools, implements, machinery) Soft technology (dairy processing, poultry, feeding) Ironically advancing technology hasn’t reduced the productivity differences among sexes Men monopolize machines confining women to manual tasks

Access to technology: 

Access to technology Majority perceive that men are the actual clientele for technology Weak functional link between technology developers & technology disseminators Skewed perception of women’s technology needs Financial constraints in adopting available farm innovations

Roles, responsibilities and decision making: 

Roles, responsibilities and decision making

Roles, responsibilities and decision making: 

Roles, responsibilities and decision making Women work more in socio-economically disadvantaged households Women contribute 50 to 90% of labor inputs Day to day jobs includes - cleaning sheds - collecting fodder - feeding animals - collecting water - milking - care of sick

Roles, responsibilities and decision making: 

Roles, responsibilities and decision making Women do jobs that are routine, labor intensive & repetitive Women jobs are an extension of her every day activity Confined largely to the private domain Minor role in in public domain Contributions critical to survival, health & production

Strategic interventions to address gender concerns: 

Strategic interventions to address gender concerns

Improve individual & household well being: 

Improve individual & household well being Crucial to understand different decision making powers of both sexes Address different livelihood needs, priorities & interests Overcome constraints Aim at holistic progress

Address needs and interests: 

Address needs and interests Mainstreaming gender involves understanding perceived needs & interests of women Recognizing different priority problems & also different solutions to address them Solutions should be practical, specific & acceptable

Improve social protection: 

Improve social protection Livestock rearing offers better social protection Builds assets at individual, household & community level Reduces vulnerability Income generated used for well being of family

Promote technology & adoption: 

Promote technology & adoption Technology can help to ease the burden on women Relevant technologies have greater adoption rates Effective dissemination measures needs to be identified & employed Creating awareness

Increased access to resources & services: 

Increased access to resources & services Women effectively run their enterprise with improved access to resources such as, grazing lands market credit veterinary services schemes technical support

Promote participation in fairs & farmers day: 

Promote participation in fairs & farmers day Encourage participation in Fairs Exhibitions Calf rallies Field visits Demonstrations Help in eliminating barriers & create awareness about advancements

Access to extension services: 

Access to extension services Formulate extension programs with due emphasis on needs & concerns of women Mere ‘adding women in’ into a program – no solution Farmer-centric programs to be designed Consider local situations

Summing up . . . : 

Summing up . . .

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Inadequate response to gender concerns in livestock production is a critical gap Understand gender dynamics Enable both sexes to truly realize their potential Finally overcome one’s own biases & prejudices