Gender Disaggregated Analysis of Milk Value Chain in Major Milk Producing Towns of Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Milk value chain was analyzed by combining, analytical and participatory tools to identify and prioritize constraints and come up with strategic interventions in major milk producing towns of Jimma zone, southwestern Ethiopia. Information at the study area and actors level was collected through discussions and individual expert contacts. In addition, group and focus group discussions were conducted with representatives of value chain actors. Random samples of 238 dairy farmers, 50 consumers, and 17 traders were surveyed. Analytical tools including descriptive statistics. The result show that mean milk of 3.03 liter per day produced by local breed and 7.01 liter per day produced by cross breed and 19.3% of local breed milk sold per month and 80.7% of cross breed milk sold per month. Milk is mainly used for household consumption for family daily food, supplied to the market. Lack of land, feed shortage, lack of improved dairy animals, diseases, labour shortage, lack of credit facilities, and lack of artificial insemination were major constraints. The major factor that hinder women’s from the participation of dairy production in the study area is lack of access to and control over assets, lack of women’s control over income, poor participation in decision making regarding livestock production and limitation on access to/use of land. Based on the finding of the study  it could be recommended that in order to improve dairy production in the study area, there is a need for technical and institutional intervention to alleviate the identified constraints through dissemination of appropriate technologies for better feeding, artificial insemination service, improved dairy animals supply and access to land, which will significantly increase milk production and animal performance.

Keywords: value chain, Gender, value chain Map, constraints