Gender aspects in livestock farming: pertinent issues for sustainable livestock development in Nepal

Abstract

This article studies gender roles, participation and opportunities in raising livestock in the Western Development Region of Nepal. The Western Development Region was chosen because of the publicly sponsored livestock activities that take place in the region. Structural surveys were used to gather data from 107 randomly selected farmers. This information was combined with official statistics, grey literature and other published materials for analysis. The results showed that with publicly sponsored livestock activities, about 45% of women were found to be participating in slow cash growth activities while only around 9% of men were participating in those same activities. Women were more likely to feed livestock, clean gutters and sheds, and collect forage, whereas men were more likely to milk the animals and sell milk, because those activities are fast income-generating activities. This study emphasizes the importance of empowering and educating both genders in the agricultural sector, because both men and women participate in farm activities. This article illustrates the importance of gender equity in promoting sustainable development, reducing poverty, and improving the standard of living in developing countries.