Gender Roles in Small Holder Dairy Farming: Pertinent Issues on Access and Control over Dairy Farming in Arumeru District, Tanzania

Abstract

A study on gender roles in dairy farming and management was conducted in Arumeru district, Tanzania. The study involved women in dairy farming groups and those not in groups. The objective of this study was to assess gender role in dairy farming and management, access and control over income obtained as well as, animal ownership, decision making  and opportunities in dairy farming system in Arumeru. Cross sectional research design was adopted using structured questionnaires to collect information from households from six villages namely Bangata, Sasi, Inshupu, Enaboishu, Sokoni II and Nkoaranga. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square were used to test the statistical significance of categorical and continuous data respectively. The results showed that women contribute more labour force in dairy management than men, those women who were not in groups did not have a full access and control over dairy farming enterprise. Furthermore, it was observed that those women in groups were in a good position to overcome traditional practice.

Women who belonged to groups controlled and had access to resources such as livestock (dairy cattle) and income generated from them. However, since most of the farmer groups were still infants, it has been recommended that the women groups should get financial assistance from the government agencies. Similarly, in conjunction with encouraging more women to join groups, gender relations in dairy management should be reassessed to minimize the work load burden to women which affects the level of production and sustainability of the dairy enterprise.

Keywords: Access and control, dairy management, gender, women groups.