Gender, smallholder livestock production, improvement and conservation in Africa

Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 9

Abstract

Policy makers, developmental agents and researchers are now aware of the need to incorporate gender issues in smallholder livestock production planning and development in order to improve livestock productivity in Africa. This discussion attempt to explore the role of gender in smallholder livestock production,genetic improvement and conservation.Strategies to improve livestock production and conservation within the smallholder livestock sector will not be successful unless gender related issues are taken into account.Ownership of different livestock species by men and women in smallholder livestock production sector has been documented, often cattle and larger animals are owned by men, while goat keeping and backyard poultry production are largely women's domains. Therefore, it is assumed that taking cognizance of gender differentials in smallholder livestock production intervention programs will result in effectively implementation of livestockdevelopment programs ensuring more optimal outcomes. The rationale for gender integration in livestock improvement and conservation is driven by the fact that different household members typically hold different livestock responsibilities; they also may have different livestock priorities and livestock production constraints. Gender sensitive livestock policy initiatives such as training women in livestock improvement and conservation in smallholder livestock production sector should be adopted in order to address specific concerns and priorities of women as major stakeholders in livestock production.Gendered asymmetries in access to livestock and services not only do a great disservice to women and men livestock smallholder farmers, but they also stifle the potential for more sustainable and effective actions along a given livestock improvement program. In most cases , where livestock improvement and conservation programs are being carried out, the lack of gender consideration constrains the development of holistic approaches to achieve desirable goals.

Authors and Affiliations

N. Assan| Zimbabwe Open University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture Management, Bulawayo Region, Box 3550, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Keywords

Related Articles

Sustainable development of bioheat from agricultural wastes and environment

This Article discusses a comprehensive review of biomass energy sources, environment and sustainable development. This includes all the biomass energy technologies, energy efficiency systems, energy conservation scenar...

Impact of political stability on the macroeconomic variables and FDI of Pakistan

In this paper we have discussed the vital role of political stability on the link between macroeconomic variables and FDI. For this purpose we have used a data of year 1991 to 2011. In this empirical analysis we have u...

Economic management in the tourism industry in Iran and World

Today, the development of tourism, in all areas, both nationally and regionally, and internationally regarded government planners and managers, and private companies are located. According to the World Tourism Organiza...

Factors influencing the chances of making a Ph.D grade at the end of M.Sc: A logistic regression approach

Over some decades now, Students have been coming back for postgraduate studies after first degree in any University. The time of returning back varies from one graduate to the other depending on so many factors. At the...

Investigation and analysis of barriers to investment in the tourism industry in Kurdistan province

The tourism industry is one of the largest and most economic activities in the world, high efficiency, which is the highest amount of added value created and directly and indirectly, other economic and cultural activit...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP409
  • DOI 10.14196/sjpas.v3i9.1442
  • Views 441
  • Downloads 19

How To Cite

N. Assan (2014). Gender, smallholder livestock production, improvement and conservation in Africa. Scientific Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 3(9), 823-826. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-409