220
5 Discussion
5.1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
Livestock ownership is a critical and important element in livestock production. In
most parts of the developing world, livestock, especially large animals, are owned
by men. Njuki et al. (2013) and Kristjanson et al. (2014) argued that livestock ownership, especially women’s ownership of livestock, is important for rural households because it contributes to household food security by increasing household
dietary diversity and food adequacy. From the results, it is evident that cattle ownership is dominated by males (69%), with only 31% of the respondents suggesting
that even women are involved as key players in raising large animals such as cattle.
This is against the general myth and arguments that smaller animals such as chickens and goats are the ones suitable for husbandry by women. This finding implies
that women should be an integral component of livestock-based interventions, and
there is a need to ensure their inclusion in household decision-making processes
such as disposal of animals and animal products and general control over livestock
assets and income derived therefrom (Njuki et al. 2013). In the context of climate
change, poor women experience gender-specific constraints that hinder their ability
to cope with and adapt to climate change (Terry 2009).
Coulibaly et al. (2015) reported that women in Chikwawa, Malawi, were the biggest victims in terms of their susceptibility to hazards induced by climate change
compared to their male counterparts. In some instances, women have to walk long
distances to fetch water for livestock, especially young calves which cannot walk
long distances to access water. It was also noted that more than 50% of the respondents were less than 50 years old. This means that development of interventions
should also consider all categories of people within the social strata. In this regard,
gender- and youth-sensitive approaches are required when developing climate
change-based policies and cattle production-related interventions aimed at
empowering and enhancing participation of women as much as men. This would
help support and promote gender equality in cattle production and to ensure that
women benefit from livestock as livelihood assets.
5.2 Knowledge on Issues of Climate Change and Weather
Variability
It has been argued that farming, especially crop production, is a risky endeavour for
smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics, where season-to-season variability and
uncertainty in rainfall determine productivity and profitability. As such, farmers
tend to make decisions based on their experience and observations (Rao et al. 2011).
In this study, it was noted that a considerable proportion of farmers indicated that
they had some understanding of the climate change and weather variability pheJ. Nanganga and A. C. L. Safalaoh
5 Discussion
5.1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
Livestock ownership is a critical and important element in livestock production. In
most parts of the developing world, livestock, especially large animals, are owned
by men. Njuki et al. (2013) and Kristjanson et al. (2014) argued that livestock ownership, especially women’s ownership of livestock, is important for rural households because it contributes to household food security by increasing household
dietary diversity and food adequacy. From the results, it is evident that cattle ownership is dominated by males (69%), with only 31% of the respondents suggesting
that even women are involved as key players in raising large animals such as cattle.
This is against the general myth and arguments that smaller animals such as chickens and goats are the ones suitable for husbandry by women. This finding implies
that women should be an integral component of livestock-based interventions, and
there is a need to ensure their inclusion in household decision-making processes
such as disposal of animals and animal products and general control over livestock
assets and income derived therefrom (Njuki et al. 2013). In the context of climate
change, poor women experience gender-specific constraints that hinder their ability
to cope with and adapt to climate change (Terry 2009).
Coulibaly et al. (2015) reported that women in Chikwawa, Malawi, were the biggest victims in terms of their susceptibility to hazards induced by climate change
compared to their male counterparts. In some instances, women have to walk long
distances to fetch water for livestock, especially young calves which cannot walk
long distances to access water. It was also noted that more than 50% of the respondents were less than 50 years old. This means that development of interventions
should also consider all categories of people within the social strata. In this regard,
gender- and youth-sensitive approaches are required when developing climate
change-based policies and cattle production-related interventions aimed at
empowering and enhancing participation of women as much as men. This would
help support and promote gender equality in cattle production and to ensure that
women benefit from livestock as livelihood assets.
5.2 Knowledge on Issues of Climate Change and Weather
Variability
It has been argued that farming, especially crop production, is a risky endeavour for
smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics, where season-to-season variability and
uncertainty in rainfall determine productivity and profitability. As such, farmers
tend to make decisions based on their experience and observations (Rao et al. 2011).
In this study, it was noted that a considerable proportion of farmers indicated that
they had some understanding of the climate change and weather variability pheJ. Nanganga and A. C. L. Safalaoh