Gender and Livestock in Indramayu, Indonesia

A case study on women's role and contribution to livestock production and management

FIELD Indonesia
FARMERS INITIATIVES FOR ECOLOGICAL LIVELIHOODS AND DEMOCRACY

FIELD Indonesia
FARMERS INITIATIVES FOR ECOLOGICAL LIVELIHOODS AND DEMOCRACY

Gender and Livestock in Indramayu, Indonesia

A case study on women's role and contribution to livestock production and management

Citation
Wiwik Sriyanti and Arma R. Bertuso. Gender and Livestock in Indramayu, Indonesia: A case study on women's role and contribution to livestock production and management. 2009. FIELD Indonesia. 16 pp.

This publication was carried out with support from PEDIGREA (Participatory Enhancement of Diversity of Genetic Resources in Asia) and Biodiversity Fund, The Netherlands (Hivos and OXFAM-NOVIB)

FIELD (Farmers' Initiatives for Ecological Livelihoods and Democracy) Jalan Teluk Jakarta 1, Rawa Bambu Pasar Minggu, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia Tel./Fax (62-21) 7803470; 33101515 Email: fieldind@indosat.net.id www.pedigrea.org; www.field-indonesia.org; www.alivefp3.org; www.theFieldAlliance.org

Production in-charge: Nugroho Wienarto, Triyanto Purnama Adi, and Engkus Kuswara Editors: Ines Vivian Domingo and Arma R. Bertuso Cover and Layout Design: Triyanto Purnama Adi Photographs: Triyanto Purnama Adi, Engkus Kuswara, Lardian Isfandri, Rendra Kusuma Wijaya, Wiwik Sriyanti, Setyo Untoro

Copyright-free publication. Readers are encourage to quote, reproduce, disseminate and translate materials for their own use. Due acknowledgment, with full reference to the article's authors and source book is requested.

A catalogue record of this book is available from the Indonesian Library

ISBN 979-98088-5-2

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Acknowledgments
We are deeply grateful for the farmer trainers, farmer breeders and farmer communities of the Farmer Field School on Participatory Plant Breeding in rice and vegetables and FFS on Goat Improvement. Without their determination and commitment these series of publications would not be a reality. Acknowledgment is also due to the support extended by the Local Government of Indramayu, West Java. Highly recognizable too is the appreciation and support of the Indonesian IPM Farmer Associations, village level governments and communities of Indramayu to the implementation of PEDIGREA. We are also grateful to FIELD's Advisory Board for their support and guidance in the implementation of the program. Our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Ines Vivian Domingo for her perseverance in editing these papers despite the short notice and making this readable to a broader audience. We also express our appreciation to the support and encouragement given by PEDIGREA (Participatory Enhancement of Diversity of Genetic Resources in Asia) Coordinators, Ms. Elenita C. Dano and Ms. Arma R. Bertuso, also to the project partners, SRER Khmer in Cambodia, PPRDI in Philippines and Center of Genetic Resources of the Netherlands. We gratefully acknowledge Biodiversity Fund of the Netherlands (HIVOS and OXFAM-NOVIB), Center of Genetic Resources of the Netherlands, and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for without their support both financial and technical to FIELD these series of publications including Gender and Livestock in Indramayu, Indonesia: A case study on women's role and contribution to livestock production and management won't be made possible.

FIELD Management Staff 25 March 2009 Pasar Minggu, Jakarta

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Gender and Livestock in Indramayu, Indonesia

A case study on women's role and contribution to livestock production and management

By: Wiwik Sriyanti1 and Arma R. Bertuso2

Livestock plays an important role in the economic and social-cultural aspects in people's lives in many rural communities around the world. It contributes to their diets and livelihoods through home consumption of meat and milk, income generation, employment opportunities, is considered as a form of savings, provides a source of organic fertilizer, and draft for farming activities and transport. The demand for livestock products such as meat, milk, eggs and others is expected to rise with the increase in population. Men and women are both involved in livestock production; however, women's access and control and decision-making in the livestock farming is limited. Their labor and responsibilities often remain underrecognized and underappreciated in livestock policies and programs. This happens despite the fact that women and girls are universally recognized as main actors in poultry and small ruminant farming. This situation on women's condition is not a lot different from one rural community in one country to another. Many women remain poor, uneducated and suffer from malnutrition and high maternal mortality rate. Most poor women have limited or no access to resources (e.g., education, farming, trainings, etc.) and opportunities to be involved in public policy making. Poverty often push them to go to cities or even abroad to seek greener pastures. They leave their villages because they see no hope for improvement in their homes or they do not have better choices. The process of marginalization and impoverishment of women became more pronounced during the height of the green revolution era which started in the late 1960s with the

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Project staff, FIELD-Indonesia Co-coordinator, PEDIGREA Foundation

mechanization of agriculture which took over the role and the job of women in farming activities. Many women have become second class citizens. They have limited opportunities to be involved in the public domain, even in the making of decisions which directly affect their lives. Because this is often part of the culture, then they are socialized to adapt to it. In addition, there are many operational rules based (supposedly) on religion which control the space for women to act. Poverty leaves women with little time and energy to think about social issues, even those which will affect their livelihoods. For poor women, the first priority is how to feed their families and keep them alive, especially the children. Given this general picture, a study using gender analysis on the role of men and women in livestock production, particularly in goat farming was conducted. The study sites were in the two villages of Cangkingan in Kedokan Bunder subdistrict and Segeran Kidul in Juntinyuat subdistrict both in the district of Indramayu, West Java where FIELD-Indonesia is implementing the farmer field school in participatory animal improvement (FFS-PAI) through the PEDIGREA project. This paper aims to analyze men's and women's participation, contribution, decision-making and access to and control of resources; this will serve as an input to improve the FFS-PAI approach in goats in FIELD-Indonesia and PEDIGREA project areas.

Gender roles in livestock management

Participation in livestock management
Women play a significant role in the management of livestock in the villages in Indramayu. The activity analysis conducted with men and women farmers involved in livestock management showed the percentage of labor contribution by women and men (Figure 1). The data show that women are mostly responsible for collection and cutting grass, feeding, stall cleaning and littering while men are mostly in charge of making the stall, preparing fuelwood (to create smoke to drive flies and mosquitoes away from the animals) and choosing and buying the goats. It can be observed that most of the routine daily

activities are mainly done by women while the seasonal tasks are mostly performed by men, including those that require heavy labor. On the other hand, activities such as treating/curing the animals and selling them is an equally shared responsibility.
100 10 90 80 70 60 50 90 40 30 50 20 10 0 40 40 20 40 60 50 80 60 60 80 60 50 40 20 50

Women Men

Co lle

ct i

Ch Co Se St a Pre L it Fe Tre llin nst oo ed t er ll c pa ati sin ing ruc gt ing rin ng lea ng g he g t t he n in a in g /c f n ue an d ut t g s a lw bu im t al n im ing oo yin als l als d gra gt he ss an im

als

Fig 1. Comparison of women's and men's roles in livestock management activities (%)

During the focus group discussion, the participants expressed that the role of the wife in managing livestock is limited to supporting her husband, despite the fact that women carry most of the responsibility in livestock management, especially the daily activities of feeding and taking care of the animals. This perception is reinforced by the belief that women (wives) cannot manage livestock without their husbands. Women are considered as responsible only for tending the animals, which is not similar to the men who manage them. The permission and help of the husband is recognized to be very important while the wife's role is only secondary. This perception is shared by both the men and women participants during the discussions, which shows that even the women themselves show their low appreciation and undervaluing of their own role in the livestock enterprise.

Decision-making in livestock management

Decision-making is an important aspect of livestock management. The majority of the participants expressed that husband and wife equally share in the decision making with regard both to their livestock and in household-related matters.

A fifth of the participants expressed that husbands make the decisions regarding their livestock, and an equal number indicated that the wives also did so. On the other hand, when it comes to household-related matters 30% answered that the husbands were responsible for making the decisions, while 10% said that the wives did. 2a. Managing livestock 2b. Household matters

60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Husband Wife

60

60 50 40 30 30

60

20

20

20 10 0
Both Husband Wife Both

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Fig 2. Participants' perception of husband's and wife's role in decision making (%)

However, decision making on specific activities in livestock management showed some differences. Women have a bigger say with regard to feeding, littering and cleaning; they decided on these activities without the need to consult with their husbands. On the other hand, husbands have major decision- making roles in activities related to stall making and in choosing and buying the livestock. However, both husband and wife have an equal role in decision making about collecting and cutting grasses for feed to animals, selling the livestock (or products) and on matters related to the animals' health.

100 90 80 70 60

Husband
50 40 30 20 10 0

Wife Both

Co lle

ct i

Ma Ch He Bu St a Sta oo rke y in t er alt ll c ll m s hr g i i t n n l i g ea ak ng liv g ng gl ela nin ing e /c i o v s t ed f li est toc ut t g ve oc k in g ac s k t iv t oc gra i t ie k ss s Fe e din Lit

Fig 3. Comparison of the husband's and wife's roles in decision making on livestock management activities (%)

Access to and control of resources and opportunities in livestock management

The data generally show that men have better access to and control of the resources related to livestock management compared to women (Figure 4). Men have better access to the housing of the animals, and choosing, buying, and selling the animals. Men and women have equal access to resources related to the animals' health. The findings show that women have slightly better control of resources (compared to their access to them). However, men still have more control of resources related to animal housing, and choosing and buying the stocks. Wives' control over matters of animal health and selling the animals is equal to that of their husbands.

Access Male
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Access Female
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Control Male

Control Female

Ma

k in

Ma Bu Se Ch Ca llin llin y in k in oo oo rin rin in g sin sin gl gf gf gS gS gl gl l g g i i i i o or t al t al ve ve v v r l l e e i i sto sto liv liv ve ve sto sto l l sto sto est est ck ck ck ck ck ck oc oc k k Ch Bu y Se Ca

Fig 4. Comparison of men's and women's access to and control of resources related to the management of livestock

Furthermore, the men have better access to formal education and trainings compared to the women (Figure 5). The beneficiaries of trainings are not necessarily the direct implementers in the management of livestock. However, women have a higher access to finances compared to men. The participants noted that this is because fund or finance management is a traditional women's role.

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Male Female

Formal education

Trainings

Skills

Finance and credit

Fig 5. Comparison of men's and women's access to opportunities related to the management of livestock

On a related note, it was found out during the discussion with both the men and women farmers that female children means no luck for the Cangkingan villagers. Such view gives them (girls) less priority for schooling, thus there are more women who have low education. The families would rather have their female children help in household and farm work, or send them outside the village as migrant workers. In some instances, some of them end up in prostitution. In general, the data show that women in the community play a big role in livestock management. The time they spend in taking care of their animals is longer compared to their husbands, but the decision making with regard to the livestock enterprise are dominated by the men. Moreover, women have less access to and control of the resources needed in livestock management. Therefore, it is important to address this issue. There is a need to increase people's awareness on the actual role of women in managing livestock; to empower women so that their value in livestock management is recognized (and that the women themselves recognize the significance of their contribution); and equally important, that they can benefit from the time and hard work they devote to managing their livestock.

The farmer field school approach in Participatory Animal Improvement (PAI) in goats
FIELD-Indonesia through the PEDIGREA project is working on PAI to help improve the genetic diversity of goats in Indramayu, particularly to improve the local goats (e.g., to increase the animals' weight, improve resistance to adverse conditions, and improve birthing rate). The PAI is implemented through the Farmer Field School (FFS). The FFS on goat breeding was conducted in the two villages of Cangkingan and Segeran Kidul in Indramayu district. The FFS is a participatory learning process where participants meet for half day once a week to conduct discussions and observations on goat trials. Their activities which start at around 9 a.m. includes data collection on the animals'

Weight, height, body size as well as observation of their stall/house, weather/ climate, pregnancy of the goats, and other relevant information. The farmers keep a record of these data, and they present and discuss them in the group. After the presentations, the project staff facilitate discussion on different topics related to breeding and management of the goats. Fifteen (15) farmers (9 males and 6 females) participated in the FFS on goat breeding and they were assisted by three facilitators and FIELD-Indonesia staff. The FFS on PAI goat started in 2008, and field enhancement studies are currently ongoing to further conduct selection among the goats.

The FFS is an approach that aims not only to improve the genetic diversity of local farm animals, but also to highlight women's significant role in managing their farm animals. The project believes that deliberately involving women in the FFS activities will provide them better access to and opportunities for relevant education and trainings. Hopefully, their role in livestock management will be better recognized and valued (considered not just as tending but also managing their livestock enterprise), and they themselves will become equal partners in making the major decisions on issues that directly affect their lives.

Note: With inputs from Helmi Ali, FIELD-Indonesia advisor , on the status of rural women in Indonesia.

FIELD
FIELD Indonesia Foundation (Farmer Initiatives for Ecological Livelihoods and Democracy) is an organization that supports people in marginal communities through education for empowerment. FIELD Indonesia was established on 1 June 2001. FIELD key staffs are former members of the FAO Regional Program on Community IPM in Asia (www.CommunityIPM.org) in 1998-2002 and were part of the team that provided technical assistance over 12 years to the National IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Program, local farmer organizations and the Indonesian IPM Farmers Associations. FIELD activities make use of a variety learning approaches including the Farmer Field Schools & Studies, Community Action Research, Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, and Farmer Advocacy. FIELD's vision is that marginal communities in Indonesia re-claim and remanage their public domains and improve their livelihoods. And its missions are to facilitate marginal communities to be able to: ? Analyze and understand the conditions of the ecosystems that form the basis of their livelihoods in technical, social and political aspects. Organize themselves to conduct actions to enhance their livelihoods in a manner that is both ecologically sound (just and in harmony with the nature) and democratic (just and in harmony with other people).

Specifically, FIELD as a partner of PEDIGREA is doing the conservation and utilization of genetic resources by farmers on rice, local vegetables (sponge gourd, bitter gourd and pumpkin) and animal (goat), participatory market development, and policy advocacy within the framework of Farmers' Rights and Ecological Agriculture in Indramayu District, West Java Province. Currently, FIELD is also working in other programs, such as Sustaining Local Food Systems and Agro-biodiversity, Community Action Research for Advocacy Education and Local Policy Reform, Environment Services Program Field Schools, Community Biodiversity and Livelihoods Field Schools, Home garden Vegetable and Nutrition Field Schools as a part of Household Food Security Program, Ecological Agriculture and Organic Farming, Ecological IPM in vegetables, and System of Rice Intensification (SRI).

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PEDIGREA
The Participatory Enhancement of Diversity of Genetic Resources in Asia (PEDIGREA) is a project that aims to strengthen the capability of farming communities to manage their genetic resources as part of local agro-biodiversity. The project focuses on:

? participatory plant breeding aimed at the broadening of the genetic base of rice in intensive production systems, ? participatory crop improvement of local and traditional vegetables (i.e. pumpkin, sponge gourd, wax gourd, bitter gourd, eggplant, string beans), ? participatory animal improvement aimed at enhancing the genetic base of farm animals (i.e. pig and goat), and ? participatory market development aimed at creating and improving market opportunities for local and regional farm products. The purpose of PEDIGREA is to contribute to food sovereignty and to strengthen farmers' genetic diversity and knowledge systems in the rice based farming systems of Southeast Asia. It works on participatory methodologies developed in the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach with the partner farming communities. At the same time, the project build on the comparative advantages of all key actors in the management of genetic resources including those from the public sector. PEDIGREA project is implemented in three countries, namely: Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. PEDIGREA project partners are SRER KHMER in Cambodia, FIELD in Indonesia and PPRDI in the Philippines, and the CGN, the Netherlands. The project is coordinated by the PEDIGREA Foundation.

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Gender and Livestock in Indramayu, Indonesia

A case study on women's role and contribution to livestock production and management

ISBN 979-98088-5-2