Gender roles in livestock production : the case of Tchenzema Ward in the western Uluguguru Highlands - Morogoro - Tanzania

Abstract

The study was designed to determine livestock production relations by gender in a matrilineal society in Tchenzema Morogoro Tanzania. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 200 households with equal numbers of men and women. Secondary data was obtained from literature. The data was compiled by using the D Base Programme and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Programme. The study results showed that livestock husbandry tasks were shared between males and females of all ages. However males contributed slightly more labour than females in feeding, health care, cleaning shed and marketing. Decisions on task allocation and time for a task as well as livestock purchase, innovation adoption and marketing were jointly made by couples. There was no gender variation in the extension method preferred but both gender preferred demonstrations and extension officers visits over other methods. The least preferred extension method by both gender was institutional training. It is recommended that in order to improve livestock production in the area extension messages should be targeted to both gender using extension officers visits and demonstrations.