Cattle as technological interventions: The gender effects of water demand in dairy production in Uganda

Abstract

Smallholder dairy production dominates the country of Uganda, with over 90% of the national herd owned by smallholders. To reduce hunger, malnutrition, and raise families out of poverty agricultural development, interventions in Uganda have focused on increasing milk production through the introduction of improved dairy cow breeds. Development actors, such as the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) program in Uganda, see crossbreed dairy cows as a key technological intervention for improving production. Drawing on a multi-method study (spatial analysis, surveys, and qualitative interviews) of dairy smallholders, our paper examines the gendered effects of the introduction of crossbreed dairy cows. To ensure peak performance, improved breeds require more inputs (e.g., water, feed, and medicine), which are labor and time intensive with specific gendered outcomes. Our findings reveal that both men and women identify fetching water as one of the greatest challenges in maintaining dairy cows, but women and children disproportionately fetch the water and women have higher reported rates of time poverty. Water quality is also an issue, with smallholders struggling to provide clean water to cows, and our basic water testing reveals water sources with high nitrate levels that can be harmful for children and dairy cows.

Nested Scales of Sustainable Livelihoods: Gendered Perspectives on Small-Scale Dairy Development in Kenya

“…In fact, there were dire infrastructural problems being faced by respondent households at the time of this study, even as they had been successfully supplying milk. One major problem cited in terms of maintaining improved cattle was lack of piped water to the house, and this has also been mentioned in other studies in the region [50]. Out of the 21 respondent households, 10 had some access to piped water or boreholes, but all ultimately depended on local streams during seasonal water shortages.…”

Dairy Livestock Interventions for Food Security in Uganda: What are the Implications for Women's Empowerment?*

“…Second, livestock are not “socially neutral” (Nally 2016:564; see also Ransom et al 2017a) in their gendered effects on women and households. For example, while women dominate the process and marketing of milk and milk products in many parts of the world, entrenched social norms and attitudes limit their decision‐making power and control over the cows and income from its products (Njuki and Sangina 2013).…”