Gender norms, labor burdens and sustainable technology adoption in dairy systems: A case study in the Colombian Amazon

Women’s participation in agricultural and livestock systems extends well beyond domestic responsibilities and encompasses productive activities as well as, in some cases, technical and managerial roles in farm operations. Despite their critical contributions, limited attention has been paid to women’s perceptions of how new technologies reduce their workload. This study used field visits and participatory workshops with women and men dairy farmers participating in the Rutas PDET Program in Puerto Rico, Caquetá, Colombia. The program seeks to improve livestock systems through the adoption of sustainable production and conservation technologies. The findings indicate that women perform most daily productive and domestic tasks. This pattern is closely associated with the prolonged absence of male spouses, who often work on nearby farms and, in some cases, return home only at night. Although the sustainable technologies promoted by the program have reduced some aspects of women’s workload, participants emphasized the continuing need for greater support from other household members. They also reported that their rest time remained disproportionately limited relative to the intensity of their working days. These findings highlight the importance of combining technological innovation with stronger household cooperation to reduce women’s labor burdens and promote more equitable and sustainable dairy systems.