An Exploratory study of Dairying Intensification, Women’s Decision Making, and Time Use and Implications for Child Nutrition in Kenya

Abstract

Dairy intensification as a development strategy is expected to improve household nutrition, yet the pathways by which this occurs are not well understood. This article examines how women's time use and decision-making patterns related to dairy income and consumption are associated with dairy intensification, as a way of exploring the links between intensification and nutrition. Results from our mixed methods study conducted with households representing low, medium and high levels of dairy intensification in rural Kenya indicated that children in high-intensity households received more milk than children in medium-intensity households. While women seemed to be gaining control over evening milk sales decisions, men seemed to be increasingly controlling total dairy income, a trend countered by the increase in reported joint decision making. Women from medium-intensity households reported spending more time on dairy activities than women from high-intensity households. More research on how dairy interventions affect women is needed. L'intensification de la laiterie comme stratégie en matière de développement est censé d'améliorer la nutrition des ménages, mais comment ça se passe n'est pas encore bien compris. Cet article examine comment l'emploi du temps des femmes et leurs modelés de prise des décisions, en matière de revenu et consommation laitière, sont associes a l'intensification de la laiterie, et à travers ça on explore aussi les liens entre cette intensification et la nutrition. Les résultats de notre étude, conduit avec des ménages à bas, moyen, et hauts niveaux de intensification laitière au Kenya, démontrent que les enfants appartenant à des ménages en haute intensification reçoivent plus de lait que les enfants appartenant à des ménages à moyen intensification. Il parait que les femmes sont en train de gagner plus de contrôle sur les décisions de la vente du lait recueilli au but du jour; et que les hommes contrôlent de plus en plus le revenu laitier total. Cette tendance est cependant contrée par la croissance signalée dans la prise de décisions communes dans les ménages. Chez les ménages à moyenne intensification laitière, les femmes signalent qu'elles passent plus de temps en activités relationés à la laiterie, comparés aux femmes chez les ménages à haute intensification laitière. Il faut plus de recherche sur comment les interventions affectent les femmes.

Gender effect of entrepreneurial orientation on dairy farming career resilience in Kenya

“…Dairy farming in Kenya is managed by both men and women and their orientations may influence the performance and dairy farming career resilience. However, there is dearth of empirical study on gendered differences on entrepreneurial orientation among dairy agripreneurs, despite the documented evidence of gender differences in running dairy business (Njuki et al, 2016).…”

“…Another explanation can be attributed to the fact that, dairy industry needs good organization, management and time as compared to crop farming. Women being more precise in nature and present at home as compared to men, will play significant role in dairy enterprises hence take high risk in such investments (Njuki et al, 2016).…”

“…Women agripreneurs play a crucial role in dairy farming career, where they are involved in production, processing and marketing of milk (Njuki et al, 2016). Despite their contribution, their access to financial, human, physical and informational resources have always been low compared to men (Ageya & Omondi, 2016;Njuki & Sanginga, 2013).…”

Gendered reporting of household dynamics in the Kenyan dairy sector: trends and implications for low emissions dairy development

“…Inequities in these domains are present in the Kenyan dairy sector (Njuki et al, 2015). Recent literature reviews (Farnworth, 2015;Gallina, 2016;Katothya, 2017;Tavenner & Crane, 2016) show that gender roles and dynamics greatly influence the distribution of control and benefit in the Kenyan dairy sector.…”

Foods of Animal Origin: A Prescription for Global Health

“…As a result of these circumstances, individuals do not receive sufficient nutrient intakes to sustain optimal well-being. Some research has shown that it is not unusual to begin feeding children livestock-derived food (particularly milk) before 6 mo of age when they should be exclusively breastfeeding (Micere et al, 2016). With that said, recent surveys confirmed that almost 40% of children above 6 mo living in informal settlements in peri-urban Nairobi did not consume cow's milk daily.…”