Does the gender of farmers matter for improving small ruminant productivity? A Kenyan case study

Abstract

A major constraint faced in implementing sheep and goat improvement programs in low input systems is the limited involvement of the pastoral livestock keepers. Gender dynamics represent strong determinants of pastoral livestock management practices but are however very rarely integrated in livestock improvement programs. This research adopts a gendered lens to explore sheep and goat breeding management, ownership and trait preferences. Using a qualitative approach ten gender disaggregated focus group discussions with 121 participants were conducted with beneficiaries from a USAID supported Accelerated Livestock Value Chain Development Project for livestock improvement in Kenya’s low input systems. The results show that availability of sheep and goat breeding stock are directly influenced by gendered allocations of management activities. Despite women’s contribution to sheep and goat management, men were perceived to exercise a greater variety of ownership rights compared to women, especially regarding decision-making over sheep and goat breeding. While sheep and goat trait preferences were similar for men and women the order of trait prioritisation was gendered according to divisions of labour and decision-making opportunities and constraints. The results demonstrate that gender dynamics in specific areas of sheep and goat husbandry in low input systems can influence breeding outcomes in different ways. Contributing to filling an important knowledge gap and supplementing existing literature, the study recommends the adoption of a gendered approach when introducing or strengthening productivity improvement practices. Strategies to ensure that sheep and goat improvement practices are not only relevant but compatible with the preferences of men and women are therefore considered more likely to improve technology adoption rates.