Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Women Livestock Managers’ Participation in Decision Making: A Study of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, women's role at the domestic level and the farm level is not recognized due to patriarchal norms and culture. The study was designed to find the socio-cultural determinants of women's engagement in livestock care/management and their participation in decision-making. In a multistage sampling technique, 600 women livestock managers were selected for data collection. A well-designed interview schedule was a tool for data collection. Results showed that 85.3% of females had no right to use the money earned from milk products and their male family members kept this money. Only 14% of females had the right to decide the children's marriage. 95% of females reported that they had no rights to sell and purchase the animals. The study revealed that the main reason for such type of issues was illiteracy as 78.2% of female respondents of the study were illiterate. The participation level in livestock management was found to be affected by family type, education age, and marital status of women. At the same time, decision-making participation is not guaranteed by participation in livestock management. Government and Non-Government Organizations can enhance the facility of education and conduct awareness sessions about their rights and women can be empowered by engaging and recognizing them in productive activities of livestock.