Title: Gender-concerns: do they matter in smallholder dairy groups in Kenya?

Authors: Dave Nyongesa; Martin Kiogora Mwirigi; David Yongo; Stella Makokha

Addresses: Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Headquarters, P.O. Box 57811-00200, City Square, Nairobi, Kenya ' KALRO, Institute of Biotechnology, Kabete Centre, P.O. Box 14733-00200, City Square, Nairobi, Kenya ' Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, State Department of Livestock, P.O. Box 34188-00100, GPO, Nairobi, Kenya ' KALRO, Institute of Biotechnology, Kabete Centre, P.O. Box 14733-00200, City Square, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: Smallholder dairy farming is a key economic activity for improving rural livelihoods. This paper reports a study on six smallholder dairy groups that evaluated the importance of gender-concerns in the dairy value-chain towards improved livelihoods. Longitudinal study design was applied for two years from April 2012. Purposive and multistage sampling techniques were used. Data collection was through focus group discussions and evaluations. Data analyses encompassed descriptive statistics, value-scale ranking and gender-analyses. Men dominated decision-making and resource-control, indicating gender-inequality. Women performed all the nine activities in the three counties, over 70% while men and youths shared about 30%. Percentage change in milk handled and incomes generated ranged from 15.3 to 100 and 13.3 to 102 respectively after intervention (especially training on gender issues) within the groups. Hence, gender-concerns indeed mattered.

Keywords: gender concerns; milk products; smallholders; agriculture; livestock; value added; marketing; dairy groups; dairy value chain; dairy farming; rural livelihoods; Kenya; decision making; resource control; gender inequality; income generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2016.074673

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2016 Vol.12 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Received: 01 Oct 2014
Accepted: 23 May 2015

Published online: 12 Feb 2016 *

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