Assan N, Moyo M (2014). Significance of engendered indigenous knowledge systems in smallholder animal agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa: Review (ISSN: 2322- 2433, Scientific Journal of Review, Volume 3, Issue 11, pages 973-980) (original) (raw)
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2014
Livestock is a dominant agricultural activity in Africa, which is generally considered a key asset for most rural livelihoods and food security. This discussion is a synthesis of counter productive gender disparities in livestock production, focusing on issues of ownership, decision making and access to productive resources, and how these may influence livestock production. Livestock production in general, offers advantages over other agricultural activities and has been used as an entry point for promoting gender balance. However, the contribution of livestock production to household welfare in most cases has been insignificant due to various gender disparities. There are many measures which need to be explored with the aim of making the livestock systems become driving forces of rural household economies. Through the 'gender lens' the discussion also examines the roles, activities, responsibilities, opportunities and constraints of women in livestock production which compromise the achievement of greater equality between women and men within their spheres of interaction in household livestock production. One of the major factors responsible for the declining livestock productivity in rural areas is the relegation to the background of the contributions of women in the issues of livestock production. In this discussion, some of the strategic steps that can be adopted for future viable livestock production, include and not limited to the following: promotion of gender equality and equity in livestock production Contents lists available at Sjournals
Scientific Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences , 2014
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. 824 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
Smallholder livestock production systems continue to play a key role in African agriculture. Although smallholder livestock production systems have had their own share of success, the truth of the matter is that more needs to be done to make them more vibrant, sustainable and reliable. With this in mind, achieving sustainable smallholder livestock production with emphasis on satisfying basic human needs, improving people’s standard of living, enhancing food security and reducing poverty pose a surmountable task in Africa. There are many measures which need to be explored with the aim of making the smallholder livestock systems become driving forces of African economies. Some of the strategic steps that can be adopted for future viable smallholder livestock production systems include and not limited to the following: promotion of gender equality and equity in smallholder livestock production systems, and intensifying activities that support or encourage the utilization of indigenous ...
Livestock is a dominant agricultural activity in Sub Saharan Africa, which is generally considered a key asset for most rural population and contribute to the livelihoods and nutrition of purely subsistence households. This discussion is a synthesis of possible strategies to consider for sustaianble livestock production, focusing on issues of climate change, gender, smallholder livestock support and use of indigenous knowledge systems, and how these may influence livestock production. There are many measures which need to be explored with the aim of making the livestock systems become driving forces of sustainable agricultural development. One of the major factors responsible for the declining livestock productivity in the region is the relegation to the background of the contributions of women in the issues of livestock production. On the other hand, climate change and variability is now widely regarded as the most serious challenge facing Sub Saharan Africa, with consequences that...
The role of gender in ensuring an enhanced integrated crop-livestock production system in West Africa cannot be underestimated. This paper is based on data generated from the baseline survey for the crop-livestock project from 960 households across Gambia, Mali, Ghana and Benin. It highlights the contribution of gender towards achieving an integrated crop-livestock system in West Africa. Results revealed that females play an active role in grain and fodder marketing such that 11.80%, 41.70%, 46.40% and 66.90% of legumes grain marketing in Gambia, Mali, Ghana and Benin respectively were carried out by females. Females were also active in drying, harvesting and sowing. Despite their active participation in production, their role in decision making as to when to sell livestock was limited. Only 17.0%, 5.4%, 13.0% and 47.4% of females in Gambia, Mali, Ghana and Benin respectively took part in decision making as to when to sell livestock in the household. Their role in deciding how to sp...
Women are the backbone of the development of rural and national economies. There is no tool of development that is more effective than the empowerment of the rural women. Nigerian rural women lack sufficient economic resources that will enable them to articulate their needs and interests and organize themselves with a view to developing the nation. The prospects of achieving food security in a rapidly growing population and relative self-sufficiency in animal protein supply calls for the production of all classes of meat animals by rural women to achieve sustainable economic development and empowerment. The animal farming opportunities through which women can be empowered included: snail, broiler, quail, duck, laying chicken, fish, bee, rabbit, pig, sheep and goat farming. The paper concluded that in order to get sustainable productivity in animal production, rural women needed be empowered to be actively involved in the various opportunities available in animal agriculture for advancing development and reducing poverty, since empowered women contribute to the health, productivity of whole families and communities and also improve the prospects of the next generation. It is recommended that Government should play key role in activities involving livestock through the formulation of policies, provision of agricultural credit for women participation in animal production, increased technical know-how in animal production through capacity building for women via livestock extension trainings, and provision of enabling environment for proper growth of the livestock industry. Also, rural development programme packages should involve women empowerment through animal production activities to achieve sustainable development.
Scientific Journal of Animal Science, 2014
Livestock is a dominant agricultural activity in Africa, which is generally considered a key asset for most rural livelihoods and food security. This discussion is a synthesis of counter productive gender disparities in livestock production, focusing on issues of ownership, decision making and access to productive resources, and how these may influence livestock production. Livestock production in general, offers advantages over other agricultural activities and has been used as an entry point for promoting gender balance. However, the contribution of livestock production to household welfare in most cases has been insignificant due to various gender disparities. There are many measures which need to be explored with the aim of making the livestock systems become driving forces of rural household economies. Through the ‘gender lens’ the discussion also examines the roles, activities, responsibilities, opportunities and constraints of women in livestock production which compromise th...
Scientific Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 2014
Micro livestock appears to be the most sustainable means of producing high quality animal protein for the expanding populations of the lesser developing countries. Diversification in animal agriculture through inclusion of non-conventional livestock such as micro livestock species (goat, sheep, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigeon, ducks, snails, grasscutter etc) provide options that would guarantee fully participation of women in livestock production to alleviate rural households protein shortage or deficiencies. The micro livestock are likely to become increasingly important source of animal protein as a result of rapid increase in human population and in the light of dwindling land sizes and natural resources in general. This is on the backdrop that micro livestock have diverse economic and social functions in rural communities, and different types of micro livestock have been associated with women due to their significant potential for alleviating malnutrition and food insecurity. Therefore, supporting micro livestock should be considered as a means to empower women in rural development which has the capacity to improve household nutrition and food security. This discussion looks at the opportunities of empowering women through micro livestock as a mean of alleviating poverty and solving the food insecurity challenges in rural communities. The challenges which women might face in engaging in micro livestock are also highlighted. The basis of micro livestock farming may be taken from the perspective of animal products supply being outpaced with the increased human population in Africa. In this case, alternative sources of animal protein such as micro livestock need to be promoted, and if not, livestock products will be beyond the reach of the majority of the ordinary persons. The space for classic livestock rearing have decreased, and this scenario will suit the keeping of smaller animals which are prolific and easy to manage. This warrant serious consideration of micro livestock farming as one of the major component of the livestock production systems where women can be empowered in rural areas. Micro livestock farming has greater opportunities in improving livelihoods among the rural poor households, provided that productivity is enhanced and appropriate input and services can be availed. Gender sensitive programs that promote micro livestock farming contribution to optimization of animal product supply and enhance food security on sustainable basis are recommended. In most cases livestock professionals such as veterinarians and animal scientists often do not have the necessary familiarity and competence with gender analysis and participatory skills to implement a gender balanced assessment or response in livestock production issues.
2018
CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food-secure future. The CGIAR Research Program on Livestock provides research-based solutions to help smallholder farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists transition to sustainable, resilient livelihoods and to productive enterprises that will help feed future generations. It aims to increase the productivity and profitability of livestock agri-food systems in sustainable ways, making meat, milk and eggs more available and affordable across the developing world. The Program brings together five core partners: the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) with a mandate on livestock; the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), which works on forages; the International Center for Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), which works on small ruminants and dryland systems; the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) with expertise particularly in animal health and genetics and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) which connects research into development and innovation and scaling processes. The Program thanks all donors and organizations who globally supported its work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.
2015
Women are powerful but often neglected agents of change, and their leadership is critical: they play a significant role in decision-making within households, including decision-making about animal care, the use of livestockfarming by-products and household food security. As key actors in the agricultural sector, women play a vital role in addressing and leading efforts to improve local economic growth by farming with livestock and improving livestock health, thereby contributing to household food security. Gender perspectives on livestock farming and disease prevention (i.e. mitigation, adaptation, policy development, decision-making) are urgently needed to improve the broad human and social dimensions of farming systems. Drawing on insights from a recent baseline study and multiple studies in Africa and elsewhere, this policy brief addresses the importance of gender considerations for small-scale livestockfarming communities in relation to food security in the South African context...