The Role of Women in Livestock Farming: Challenges and Opportunities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijapm.2025.41.3.7Keywords:
Livestock farming, Women empowerment, Sustainable development.Abstract
Women are actively involved in livestock farmingpractices in rural India. They have both emotional and economical association with livestock. Most women are engagedin care and management of livestock such as feeding, milking and cleaning of shed.Disposal and use ofwaste material and dung from the shed is also performed by the women. Their immense contribution in livestock farming provides financial independence and better social status. Their hard and dedicated works endow rural livelihood, and pledge food security. It ensures full time employment and dispenses woman empowerment in the society. Nevertheless,women frequently encounter obstaclesin livestock farming, affecting theproduction. Social customand gender-based discrimination render limited access to markets, veterinary care, education, financial freedom, and use of land. Limited decision making power of a woman appeared as a great hindrance in socio-economical and sustainable development of a country.
References
Aggarwal, N., Gupta, M., & Singh, S. (2014). Financial literacy among farmers: Empirical evidence from Punjab. Pacific Business Review International, 6(7), 36–42.
Anonymous. (2017). Enhancing women involvement in cooperation. National Dairy Development Board. https://www.nddb.coop/
Anonymous. (2024). India’s dairy sector. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2172546
Barooah, P., Alvi, M., Ringler, C., & Pathak, V. (2023). Gender, agriculture policies, and climate-smart agriculture in India. Agricultural Systems, 212(3), 103751.
Batool, Z., Warriach, H. M., Ishaq, M., Latif, S., Rashid, M. A., Bhatti, A., Murtaza, N., Arif, S., & Wynn, P. C. (2014). Participation of women in dairy farm practices under smallholder production system in Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 24(4), 1263–1265.
Benard, M., Maria, A., Urbina, M., Alejandro, M., Corrales, R., & Hoek, et al. (2016). The silent cattle breeders in Central Nicaragua. In R. Pyburn & A. van Eerdewijk (Eds.), A different kettle of fish? Gender integration in livestock and fish research (pp. 84–91). LM Publishers. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78649
Chayal, K., Dhaka, B. L., Poonia, M. K., Tyagi, S. V. S., & Verma, S. R. (2013). Involvement of farm women in decision-making in agriculture. Studies on Home and Community Science, 7(1), 35–37.
Devendra, C., & Sevilla, C. (2002). Smallholder dairy production and marketing – Opportunities and constraints. FAO. https://www.fao.org/3/y5160e/y5160e00.htm
FAO. (2011). The role of women in agriculture. FAO. https://www.fao.org/3/i2050e/i2050e00.htm
FAO. (2013). Climate-smart agriculture sourcebook. FAO.
Gupta, P. (2024). A systematic review on women’s participation in agricultural work and nutritional outcomes. MPRA Paper No. 124283. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/124283/
Jayasheela, G. (2015). The role of women in Indian agriculture sector. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 3(2), 375–382. https://www.ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT1133090.pdf
Kyotos, K. B., Oduma, J., Wahome, R. G., Kaluwa, C., Abdirahman, F. A., Opondoh, A., Mbobua, J. N., Muchibi, J., Bagnol, B., Stanley, M., Rosenbaum, M., & Amuguni, J. H. (2022). Gendered barriers and opportunities for women smallholder farmers in the contagious caprine pleuropneumonia vaccine value chain in Kenya. Animals, 12(8), 1026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12081026
Li, Y., Xie, X., Liu, G., & Xu, D. (2024). How does the improvement of farmers’ financial literacy affect food production? Analysis of behavior and constraints based on element substitution and planting structure adjustment. Food Security, 16(3), 721–733.
Pandey, A., Singh, Y. K., Rai, D. P., & Laxmi. (2024). Role of rural women in income generation through animal husbandry. Extension Journal, 7(6), 35–38.* https://doi.org/10.33545/26180723.2024.v7.i6Sa.685
Quisumbing, A. R., Brown, L. R., Feldstein, H. S., Haddad, L., & Peña, C. (1996). Women: The key to food security. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 17(1), 1–2.
Quisumbing, M. A. R., & McClafferty, B. F. (2006). Food security in practice: Using gender research in development. International Food Policy Research Institute.
Rath, D. (2025). Enhancing participation of women dairy farmers in governance and management of dairy cooperatives: Empowering women in dairy cooperatives – Future women managers. NDDB-India. https://share.google/okK0ehlFafiKsD7Ke
Rathod, P. K., Nikam, T. R., & Landge, S. (2011). Participation of rural women in dairy farming in Karnataka. Labour, 34, 28–33.
Sarker, D. M., & Datta, K. (2023). The role of women dairy cooperative society in the socio-economic empowerment of women members: A study of Nadia District of West Bengal in India. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 7(8), 926–940.* https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.7869
Taneja, V. K. (2013). Women and livestock. Daily Post. http://www.dailypost.in/comments/columnists/3034-women-andlivestock
Vijayalakshmy, K., Chakraborty, S., Biswal, J., & Rahman, H. (2023). The role of rural Indian women in livestock production. European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(1), 91–98.
Wanyama, J. K., Baltenweck, I., Owuor, G., & Staal, S. (2015). Gender and livestock: Opportunities and challenges. International Livestock Research Institute. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/68580

