In 2019, Makerere University, received funding from the Government of the Republic of Uganda (the Research and Innovation Fund (RIF) to complement available research funding with the aim of meeting unfunded priorities critical to accelerating development across different sectors of the economy in Uganda. In this regard, a multidisciplinary team comprised of members of staff from Makerere University, government and the private sector came together and developed a project entitled “Integrating Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Elite Pig Genetics to transform the Pig Value Chain in Uganda”. The team is led by Assoc. Prof. Donald Rugira Kugonza (Department of Agricultural Production, School of Agricultural Sciences - College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences -CAES). Other team members include Dr. Catherine Pauline Anena (School of Women and Gender Studies – College of Humanities and Social Sciences - CHUSS), Dr. Gideon Nadiope (Director, Iowa State University–Uganda Program - ISU-UP) and Lydia Magala (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries - MAAIF).

The project that rolled out in 2020, is set to provide opportunities to farmers in three districts of Wakiso, Luweero and Mpigi with the aim of boosting farmer access to and ownership of improved pig breeds through use of affordable and easily accessible Artificial Insemination technologies. The project will distribute upto 1000 dozes of improved pig breeds’ semen at subsidized rates. Of these, 200 doses will be completely free to farmers as a strategy to help marginalized farmers like women and others who cannot afford AI technologies, but also to popularize AI technology uptake among farmers. The project team will also provide trainings and exchange visits for male and female farmers in the selected communities, to enhance their knowledge and skills for pig farming and enhance their understanding of AI technology in Pig farming.

The project will also build capacity of district veterinary staff to understand and appreciate gender dynamics in pig farming in their communities, as well as the importance of gender mainstreaming in service delivery in the livestock sector in general. Building the capacity of veterinary staff in this aspect will enhance access to extension services by female and other marginalized farmers, as well as enhance tailor made service delivery that addresses the unique needs of female vs male farmers and thereby increases gains from extension services received by pig farmers in these communities.The team will also hold sensitization meetings with farmers on the importance of gender sensitivity in communities, the importance of shared decision making in households, and the importance of equitable resource allocation at household levels. It is envisaged that this will help female farmers to benefit more from their time and labour invested in pig farming activities on their own or household pigs farms. This in turn, will enhance female farmer motivation to engage in pig farming, as well as encourage them to expand productivity due to gains realized from the sector. It is envisaged that improved benefits for female and male Pig farmers, will not only result in sustainable livelihoods in the sector but also increased incomes and household wellbeing.

In rural societies, where local culture and traditions are still very vibrant, responsibilities and tasks are often assigned to women and men on the basis of traditional gender roles, defined as those behaviours and responsibilities that a society considers appropriate for men, women, boys and girls. These roles change over time, have different characteristics in every local context and are shaped by ideological, religious, cultural, ethnic and economic factors. Gender ideologies determine access, utilization and control over different processes, structures and resources that are vital for agricultural productivity, household economic and social wellbeing as well as for sustainable livelihoods. These norms and rules have material consequences for issues of women’s and men’s relative access to and claims over different categories of resources that aid agricultural productivity as well as their own livelihoods development strategies. This therefore has implications for livelihoods security, and socio-economic wellbeing of agricultural households and suggests that mainstreaming gender into agricultural programmes could help eliminate the barriers to livelihoods sustainability and socio-economic wellbeing of farm households as well a speed up development not just in terms of economic indicators but also in terms of human indicators like better quality of life.

Dr anena making a presentation on the importance of gender mainstreaming in agricultural projects 

It is noted that while female farmers in Uganda contribute much to the agricultural sector and indeed form the bulk of the labour force, their control over vital resources and access to essential services has remained wanting. Further, women and men experience different challenges when accessing, managing and controlling livestock assets. Despite their important contribution and role in livestock management, women often face greater constraints than men in accessing natural resources, extension services, marketing opportunities and financial services as well as in exercising their decision-making powers. These constraints often prevent women from reaching their full potential within the agricultural sector, including livestock, and therefore compromise the achievement of overall household food security and nutrition. Since women usually manage household meals, they have a primary role regarding the nutritional status of the household, especially the children. Because of this traditional role, women have therefore the potential to influence and promote a balanced diet. Thus, when rural women access and control the livestock or livestock products they own or manage, household coping strategies significantly improve, resulting in a positive impact on overall household well-being, particularly nutrition. Recognizing the different roles that women and men play in the agriculture sector is key to identifying the diverse challenges they face and tailoring projects and programmes on their specific needs. These are issues that the project team, with support of Dr Anena the Gender specialist, will seek to address through among other strategies, farmer sensitization on gender dynamics, capacity building for veterinary officers on gender dynamics and gender mainstreaming in livestock related extension service delivery. The team will further ensure that half of the beneficiaries are women, and that other categories of marginalized groups including youth (male and female) and people with disabilities, also benefit from the project.

Written by

Dr Catherine Pauline Anena

School of women and Gender Studies

Makerere University Kampala