Gender responsibility in smallholder mixed crop–livestock production systems of Jimma zone, South West Ethiopia

摘要

ThestudywascarriedoutduringtheperiodfromDecember2005toMay2007inthemixedcrop-livestockfarmingsystemsofJimmazonetoassesstheoverallresponsibilitygenderinlivestockproductionandmanagementsystem.Thesurveymethodologyemployedwasasystematicallypurposivesamplingusingstructuredquestionnaire.PRAtoolswereappliedtocomplementdatacollectedbyquestionnaire.Thesmallholderlivestockproductionsystemsconsideredinthestudyareaismixedcrop#8211;livestockfarming.nbsp;Livestockaresignificantinmaintainingthelivelihoodsoftheirkeepersbyprovidingfood,draughtpower,manure,skin,hide,cash,security,socialandculturalidentity,mediumofexchangeandmeansofsavings.Thereisadistinct,butnotverystrict,genderdivisionofworkinthefarmingsystems.Thisdivisionoflaborisinfluencedbysocio-culturalandsocio-economicfactors.Menarelargelythedecisionmakersforlivestockproductionandareinchargeofgeneralherdmanagement.However,womengenerallycontributemorelabourinputsinareasoffeeding;managevulnerableanimals(calves,smallruminants,andsick,injuredandpregnantanimals),cleaningofbarns,dairy-relatedactivities(milking,butterandcheesemaking),transportationoffarmmanureandsaleofmilkanditsproductsthanmenandchildren.Menownmostofthelivestockspeciesandputupforsaleanimalsandmeat.Womenownasmallproportionofthelargeanimalsaswellaschickenandaremilkmanagersinthesmallholdersystem.Bothmenandwomentakepartintheharvestingandtransportationoffeed,chaffingoffodder,feedingofanimals,cleaningofshedsandsaleofmilk,cheeseandbutter.Processingofmilkisdonesolelybywomenwhilechildrenofbothsexestetherandherdanimals.Constraintstolivestockproductionsuchaslackofcapitalandaccesstoinstitutionalcredit,competinguseoftime,poortechnicalskillsandlackofaccesstoimprovedextensionservicesaffectwomenmorethanmen,andmayfurtherlimittheparticipationofwomenandtheirefficiencyinall-purposelivestockproduction.Overall,researchongenderresponsibilityinlivestockislimited,especiallygenderdisaggregateddataonworksharing,accesstoresourcesandbenefits.nbsp;