GENDER ROLES IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION: ASSESSMENT OF PASTORAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN KADUNA SATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

In Nigeria, the pastoralist is a highly gender-differentiated society. Where existing, gender dynamics and power relations restrict women’s abilities to exercise equal access to and control over financial and other productive resources. Using descriptive statistics to analyze data from 316 clustered Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDNN) project beneficiary communities, this study assesses gender roles, access and control among pastoralists in Kaduna State. Results showed that 62% of the respondents were female while 38% were male with mean age of 35.5, and average household size of 13. About 22% of the women pastoralists can read and write in Hausa against 19% of the male. The living standard of the respondents showed that majority of the respondents (44%) live in mud but iron roofed houses, and source water from stream. At least 52% of the female respondents belong to a cooperative, while 32% have savings, compared to 29% of male. Major household decisions are taken by men as indicated by 85% of the female respondents. About 68% of the cattle are owned by husbands only. Thus, it can be concluded that education, training, and promotion of digital credit, exposure to information media have the potential to increase women`s empowerment. Therefore, effective initiatives undertaken by the concerned agencies in improving women`s education, skill acquisition and access to information could enhance women’s empowerment to achieve gender equality and development in the pastoral system.