Role of Female and Male Headed Households in Dairy Production, Processing and Marketing in Rob Gebeya Women Association of Walmera District of Central High Lands of Ethiopia

Abstract

A formal survey was conducted in Rob Gebeya women asociation of Walmera districts of West Shewa in central highlands of Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to identify constraints of female headed households (FHH) and male headed households (MHH) in dairy production, handling, processing and marketing. A total of 66 women dairy producer households were randomly selected from a women association in Rob Gebeya ‘kebele’ of Walmera district. The average family size (Mean ± SE) in the FHHs was 4.8 ± 0.7 persons per household  whereas the MHHs was 6.0 ± 0.3 persons. FHHs had less access to education than MHHs. Dairy and food crop based farming enterprises were identified as major sources of livelihood. Record keeping was not common in more than 50% of the respondents both in FHHs and MHHs. The situation was more aggravated in FHH where more than 80% of FHHs do not keep farm records. In 57% of MHH, husbandry and management of dairy animals was undertaken by MHHs. In 50 % of the households, milking was the responsibility of women. About 66.7% MHHs and 63.6% FHH sell milk. The major marketing segment for raw milk were neighbors. About 60.4% of male and 55.6% FHH sold their milk directly to their neighbors. In 64.9% of MHH, women control income from milk sells. While 21.6 % of the husbands controlled income from milk sells. The major production constraints were poor quality of feed (27.5%) and feed shortage (29.4%) in MHH. Only 36.4% of FHH had access to training While, 74.5 % of MHH had access to training on dairy production and farm management aspects. The major constraints can be alleviated by enhancing utilization of available feed resources, improved health, reproductive management, targeted trainings and introduction of improved dairy technology.

Keywords: dairy, household groups, production, processing, marketing