Gender participation in production and management of small and large livestock in Matsieng constituency, Lesotho

Abstract

Background: Livestock production has become a very important part in many developing countries. It also provides food security and the livelihoods of a large population in many rural areas of developing countries. Majority of Basotho livestock farmers are based in the rural areas, and are mainly subsistence farmers. For a long time, women and men have not been participating equally in livestock production and management due to different factors such as women's low literacy, culture, gender and the geographical location. However, the Lesotho Government tried to make improvements towards challenges faced by women, and signed treaties and protocols such as The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that was ratified in 1995. The Government further adopted the Married Persons’ Equality Act 2006, and The Land Act 2010 and Gender and Development Policy 2018-2030 to name the few, with the purpose of uplifting the status of women. Objective: The objective of the study is to assess role played by men and women in small and large livestock production and management, examining factors that restrict equal participation of men and women in livestock production and management, investigating how livestock production and management contribute to the livelihoods, and to study the areas where men and women benefit most in livestock production and management. Methods: The study engaged different methods to collect data, such as interviews, observation and focus group discussion with female farmers, male farmers, shepherds, and community leaders at Ha Paanya Matsieng. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: It was discovered that both men and women participate in the production and management of livestock. However, they do not equally participate, with men still holding an upper hand of the economic products and being on the decision making. There are different factors ix that were revealed that hinder equal participation of men and women, such as culture, the status of either a man or a woman and the customary law that governs rural households. Livestock has been found to be the backbone of many rural families, they depend more on livestock. Finally, it was found that men are still benefiting more than women on livestock and their products, while women are not directly benefiting but benefit as a whole household. Recommendations: The Lesotho Government should harmonise the laws that govern customary marriages, particularly because the majority of households in rural areas are married customarily. Since women for most part have no access to their livestock in the absence of their husbands, owing to their identity, it is recommended that the Legal Capacity of Married Persons Act should be made to cover both civil and customary marriages. Also recommended is that the Basotho households, especially both partners should be sensitized to their right to knowing their livestock and their documents to avoid any problems encountered by women following the death of their husbands.