A gendered analysis of constraints to cattle production in Ijara sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The livelihoods of communities in Arid and Semi-arid lands are under growing threat due to recurring droughts and presence of animal diseases. This study was carried out among women, men focus groups and key informants in 2013 to establish the perceptions of men and women livestock keepers to constraints in cattle production. Participatory methodologies were employed to rank problems, identify cattle diseases through listing and ranking, estimate incidence of diseases and describe relative impact of disease on products through proportional piling. Trypanosomosis and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) were ranked as the most important diseases of cattle by both men and women focus group discussions. This study demonstrates the factors that should be considered in livestock/animal health policy formulation for men and women pastoralists.