Gendered Livelihood Implications for Improvements of Livestock Water Productivity in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Scarcity, lack of access, and ineffective and inefficient use of water in Nkayi District, Zimbabwe, threaten agricultural production. The purpose of this study is to augment understanding of opportunities to increase livestock water productivity (LWP) in Nkayi District by taking into account key differences in the capacities, opportunities, and needs of women and men. There are two important types of female-headed households, de facto and de jure. The results from this study showed that male-headed and de facto and de jure female-headed households share much in common. They all had similar areas of cropland and access to education, finances, veterinary and extension services, and transportation and markets. Households of all types had similar herd sizes. All were desperately poor with incomes much less than a dollar a day. To rise out of poverty, the knowledge, skills and effort of all household heads will be needed. In spite of severe poverty, household heads of all types are literate and have sufficient education that can help enable adoption of intervention options that can lead to increased agricultural production and improved livelihoods. The results also showed that major differences exist in terms of the roles of men and women in ownership, management and decision making related to livestock keeping and animal production. Men clearly dominate in both ownership and decision making even though women play a major role in animal management. Only in de jure female-headed households were women more likely than men to own cattle and goats. They were also more likely to be involved in farming as a primary livelihood activity. Surprisingly, men were more likely to be involved in animal management in these de jure female-headed households. Women were also excluded from water users' and livestock producers' associations although a minority of men was members. By not involving the already-developed capacity of women, the community loses out on a significant opportunity to increase LWP and animal production more widely. Greater inclusion of women in decision making will be an important part of future efforts to improve livelihoods through livestock development.

Climate Change Impact on Small-Scale Animal Agriculture: Livestock Water & Food Security in Africa

“…Despite a minority of men being members, [84] noticed that women were not allowed to join organizations for livestock producers and water users. It has been asserted that the community misses a big potential to significantly boost LWP and animal output by not utilizing the already-developed capacity of women.…”

Modeling Climate Change Impacts on Rangeland Productivity and Livestock Population Dynamics in Nkayi District, Zimbabwe

“…In areas that were previously cultivated regeneration is dominated by Terminalia serecea and Julbernadia globiflora. Human population densities apart from Nkayi business center ranges from 5-50 pp/km 2 with density decreasing from the South to North [3,4].…”

“…[2], predicted a 25% loss of livestock production in crop-livestock systems in developing countries as a result of climate change mainly because livestock take time to rebuild after die-offs. In turn, livestock also plays an important role in the livelihoods of farmers by contributing significantly toward food security by alleviating seasonal food shortages through meat and milk and most importantly cash income [3]. However, high mortalities and low productivity were to be the most important constraints in this sector, hence farmers fail to realize the potential benefits from livestock.…”

Improving Water Productivity in Crop-Livestock Systems of Drought-Prone Regions: Editorial Comment

“…By excluding women from water users' and livestock producers' associations (e.g. in Zimbabwe), the community commonly loses out on a significant opportunity to increase water productivity and potentially higher returns from crop and livestock investments (Senda et al ., 2011). These systems could be more efficient and equitable through capacitating local institutions and improving governance of collectively managed irrigation schemes, grazing lands and hillside exclosures (Deneke et al ., 2011).…”