Women and Agriculture

Enhancing Livelihood of Rural Women through Livestock Production

Objectives

Assessment of socio-economic conditions and women’s role, gender issues, policies and programmes in livestock production
Identification and refinement of appropriate technology to address the gender needs
Facilitate appropriate intuitional mechanism and capacity building for up scaling of appropriate technologies

Research activities Completed

Selection of village clusters and Initial benchmark survey have been conducted to know the livestock density and livestock system etc.,
Interacted and discussed with household using PRA tools help of local language translator
Household surveys for assessing socio-economic conditions and women’s role in livestock production
Collection of secondary data on pig production, polices and programmes in Meghalaya
Inventory of technology in pig production
Identification of women’s role in pig production technologies
Identification gender issues
Inventory of women friendly technologies in pig production

Brief Findings

Inventory of pig production technology

a) Housing: Low cost pig housing with locally available materials Pig housing for high rainfall area

b) Feeding: Low cost feed formulation Sweet potato based feeding Creep feed formula

c) Breeding: Upgraded pigs Exotic pigs Artificial Insemination Winter management of new born piglet Castration Early weaning

d) Health : Vaccination Deworming PCR based diseases diagnostic kits Parasite diagnostic kits Area specific mineral mixture

e) Processing technologies: Slaughtering Curing Processing of bristles

Role of respondent in livestock production activities

Breeding	Independent-20-30%, Joint-70-80% Transport and placenta disposal-male (100%) Upgraded pigs: Purchase of superior germplasm- male(70%) AI in pigs: Care of pregnant animals: joint (50.6%), no partipitation-49.4%) Care of new born and Winter management: no participation (70-80%) Castration: traditional method (52.5%), no participation (47.5%)
Housing	Joint decision, construction-male(60-80%), cleaning -female
Feeding	Female (70-80%) except purchase of concentrated feed
Fodder cultivation	Joint-70-80%, harvesting and chopping by female
Health care	Male (70-80%), except identification of sick animals done jointly (initial observation by female) Vaccination and deworming- jointly done
Processing and marketing	Selling of live animals-jointly, No participation

Decision making pattern in livestock production

   Breeding

Joint (70-80%)

   Feeding

Female (78.7%)

   Health care
   management

Care of new born and sick animals-female (60-78%) Joint (70-80%)
Cleaning of animals and shed by female (82.3%)

   Marketing

Live animals –female (72%)

   Miscellaneous

Selection of livestock enterprise-Joint (73.4%),
Availing credit facilities-Joint

Technology adoption and perception

Breeding technologies	Upgraded pigs Adoption rate: 64.5%, average, not difficult Non-adoption rate: Non availability upgraded pig, costly, more risky Artificial Insemination Adoption rate: 50.5%, not difficult Required skilled person, availability, lack of awareness Winter management Adoption rate: 50%, costly, required manpower, average score Castration Adoption rate: 27.5% costly, required manpower, difficult in transport
Feeding	Concentrate feeding 2%, costly Traditional method 76.7% Low cost feeding Adoption Rate: 55%, average, not difficult
Housing	Low cost housing Adoption Rate: 45%, not difficult, friendly Modern housing 2%, costly Simple Traditional Adoption Rate: 53%
Health care	Vaccination and deworming Adoption Rate:50%, lack awareness, lack of services Supplementation Mineral mixture-7%, lack awareness, lack of services
Record keeping	Adoption rate:2-3%, lack awareness, complex, small holder
Processing	Not adopted:100% Traditional of curing and drying-15%

Gender issues in pig production

Purchase and transport of pig
Restringing the pig/piglet
Constriction of pig shed
Cleaning of pig shed particularly in the traditional housing
Entery in pig shed
Shifting of pig from one place to other place or other shed
Oral medication of pig
External application of medicine
Management of newborn piglet and mother

Breeding	Joint (70-80%)
Feeding	Female (78.7%)
Health care management	Care of new born and sick animals-female (60-78%) Joint (70-80%) Cleaning of animals and shed by female (82.3%)
Marketing	Live animals –female (72%)
Miscellaneous	Selection of livestock enterprise-Joint (73.4%), Availing credit facilities-Joint