Research Articles Why gender and youth matter in livestock production
Strengthening livestock production in the tropics and subtropics involves much more than just technical improvements and environmental considerations. Our recently published paper on "Leveraging Gender, Youth, and Social Networks for Inclusive and Transformative Livestock Production" delves into the social dynamics that shape these systems, underscoring how addressing gender roles, youth participation, and social networks can lead to livestock production systems that are both inclusive and transformative.
Gender dynamics in livestock value chains
Gender inequality remains a significant issue in livestock value chains. Small ruminant value chains in Ethiopia are an example of common dynamics: men typically have greater control over decisions and resources, leaving women at a disadvantage. However, when women’s labor is actively recognized in these value chains, there is a shift toward more equitable decision-making, although this does not always translate into durable women empowerment. To address this, value chain participation must be paired with interventions targeting deep-rooted gender imbalances, such as norms that prevent women’s resource management and decision-making.
Wide research highlights similar findings in different settings: In Uganda, researchers have highlighted the critical role of women in dairy production, emphasizing the need for gender-focused interventions to enhance milk safety and market access. Meanwhile, in Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania the challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in aquaculture, maize, and poultry value chains are being explored. These studies highlight the importance of pursuing gender-inclusive policies and access to resources like finance and technology to support women in these sectors.
Inclusive approaches harness the innovation and energy of youth while tackling gender disparities in agriculture. Credit: Georgina Smith / CIAT
The hidden work of women in livestock systems
Authors Brückner and Sardavar bring attention to the often-overlooked contributions of unpaid household labor in global agrifood chains. This labor - typically performed by women - plays a critical role in food security and economic stability, but is rarely accounted for in formal economic analyses. Similarly, in India, more complicated dynamics emerge at the intersection of caste and gender in dairy production, showing that while dairy cooperatives have empowered women, they have not fully addressed broader caste inequalities.
In Guatemala, cultural and economic barriers limit women's participation in crop and livestock production. Even when men migrate, women rarely take on crop-related tasks, focusing instead on small-scale livestock activities. Economic obstacles such as limited resources and market access further restrict their ability to expand these ventures, and this is common across different geographies.
Youth engagement in livestock farming
Youth participation in livestock farming is crucial, particularly in regions grappling with climate change and migration. Despite the challenges, studies show how young people in Sub-Saharan Africa are overcoming these challenges, often through self-driven strategies such as animal gifting and savings groups. Education and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are also key to modernizing livestock practices and helping youth transition from traditional roles and adapt to challenging conditions.
Similarly, recent research highlights that climate change adaptation strategies for livestock must consider social factors such as gender and wealth, youth engagement and women's access to resources, which remain constrained. Tilahun and Holden’s research in Ethiopia shows that providing youth with better access to assets like oxen and land can encourage them to stay in livestock farming, offering a sustainable livelihood option and reducing migration pressures.
A dairy farmer's child milks a cow in Caquetá, a key dairy-producing region in south-central Colombia. Credit: Anny Yedra / CIAT
Social networks and cultural dynamics in livestock production
While research has shown that social networks and collaboration play a vital role in the success of livestock systems, Pérez-Lombardini et al. case study in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula demonstrate how local social organization and cultural practices influence farmers' responses to climate variability. This emphasizes the importance of integrating social factors with technical strategies to promote sustainable livestock farming.
In a similar fashion, Kotobiodjo et al. examine how socioeconomic, environmental, and policy factors impact the adoption of integrated crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems. The success of such systems depends on addressing challenges like land tenure and community engagement. Meanwhile, Slayi et al.'s review of communal cattle feedlots in sub-Saharan Africa emphasizes the importance of socio-economic and institutional factors in sustainable livestock management.
Perin and Enahoro explore the future of dairy farming in Kenya and Senegal, underscoring challenges like population growth, climate change, and socio-economic pressures. As dairy farming intensifies due to land fragmentation, government incentives, and market opportunities, this could lead to more productive but fewer farms. However, this shift brings its own risks such as feed and water shortages, animal health threats, and reduced milk quality. Additionally, population growth compounds issues like land pressure and high production costs, while youth migration and land conflicts further threaten the sector's resilience. The authors emphasize the need for climate-smart practices, better policies, and coordinated production to ensure sustainable and resilient dairy farming.
Toward a holistic approach to livestock production
The articles in this Research Topic unveil the need for a comprehensive approach to livestock production, integrating social dimensions such as gender, youth participation, and community networks with technical and environmental strategies. Traditional models that focus exclusively on productivity or environmental sustainability fall short of addressing the complex challenges faced by livestock producers in the tropics and subtropics, as a vast body of scholarship has been stressing for the past years.
By incorporating gender roles, engaging youth, and leveraging social networks, livestock systems can become not only more sustainable but also more inclusive and equitable. Achieving this shift requires a deep, historical understanding of the social dynamics within these systems and a commitment to ensure that historically marginalized, oppressed groups—especially women and young people—have a meaningful role in shaping the future of livestock production.
Recognizing and supporting the contributions of women is crucial for achieving equitable livestock value chains. Credit: Anny Yedra / CIAT
The takeaway
Gender, youth, and social networks are essential pillars of inclusive and transformative livestock production. This research highlights the necessity of adopting holistic approaches that prioritize social inclusion alongside technical and environmental advancements. By addressing these interconnected social dimensions, we can build resilient livestock systems that are equitable in their benefits and sustainable for future generations, particularly in the advent of climate change.
Acknowledgments
This work was carried out as part of the OneCGIAR Initiative Livestock & Climate (L&C). We thank all donors who globally support our work through their contributions to the CGIAR System. CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 Research Centers in close collaboration with hundreds of partners across the globe.
- Díaz Baca MF, Moreno Lerma L, Burkart S and Triana Ángel N (2024) Why do rural youth migrate? Evidence from Colombia and Guatemala. Frontiers in Sociology. 9:1439256. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1439256
- Triana-Ángel, N.; Burkart, S. (2023) Youth in livestock and the power of education: The case of “Heirs of Tradition” from Colombia: 2012–2020. Journal of Rural Studies 97 p. 405-415. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.12.032