Role of livestock projects in empowering women smallholder farmers for sustainable food security in rural Kenya

Abstract

In this article the researchers strive to establish a connection between female participation in livestock programs and the socio-economic and nutritional status of women in the Vihiga District of the Western Province of Kenya. Women are a very crucial component to maintaining the nutritional health and development of their families. However, because of lack of control over assets and poor access to resources, poverty and food insecurity continue to affect communities in Africa. In a study of 300 households, researchers compared women currently participating in livestock development projects (LDPs), specifically the dairy programme, and women in a non-beneficiary group who were not participating in LDPs. The results indicated that women in the beneficiary group had higher education, income and nutritional levels than those in the non-beneficiary group. The adoption of LDPs can be applied to the community as a whole if many cultural factors are taken into consideration and the potential benefits of the programs are promoted. For LDPs to be effective there must be an effort made to educate all stakeholders about the projects goals, establish a commitment to the re-direction of resources, and embrace the purpose of the LDPs.