Animal Husbandry: Enabling Gender Equality

It was with the proposal of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation that a residential training programme was started for women at the Anand Agricultural University. The only criterion set to undergo the training was that women should know to read and write.

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Women, especially in rural areas have traditionally managed their homes alongside taking care of household animals. Only, their contributions have never received economic valuation and due recognition. In Gujarat, however women play a key role in the financial management of the household as well. Their contribution to Animal Husbandry is one such example.

An increase in the number of cattle has increased the state's capacity to  handle growing demands, even co-operative societies have set up vital training sessions which help women  improve  their Animal husbandry skills.  It is these efforts that have seen Gujarat increase its milk productivity by 65%.

“There was a notion that a woman cannot take care of animals, and she would find it difficult to help nurture the growth of an animal. But all this has changed, by inducing confidence  that they can indeed do it.”, said Dr. Ankita Killedar, Research Scientist and Head, Reproductive Biology Research Unit, Anand Agriculture University.

It was with the proposal of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation that a residential training programme was started for women at the Anand Agricultural University. The only criterion set to undergo the training was that women should know to read and write.

“The direct result of taking care of animals with sensitivity is an overall increase in milk production.”

The training gives priority  to the trainees getting hands-on training in the nitty-gritties involved in animal husbandry.

“These include calf rearing, details on timely breeding of animals and steps to be taken while pregnancy.” explained Dr. Ankita as some of the factors on which the women are given training.

The training also equips women about the feeding habits of cattle; details as to how much and what to feed the cattle, the proportion in which grass is to be cut, clean milk production and tips on vaccination are also given.

The training focuses on the best possible integration of technology into increasing the productivity of milk; this has resulted in positive results.

The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation with the help of its unions carries out the selection process of the women capable of attending the training programme.

“We train and empower many tribal women from Navsari and Surat Dairies as well.” added Dr. Ankita

The direct result of training women is an increase in Milk production, and now women also understand what it takes to protect and take care of their animals.

Duliben Somabhai Patel, who underwent the training a couple of years ago attributes her ability to  integrate technology into animal husbandry to the training program.

“I take care of 20 cows now. The systematic approach learnt in the training has given us a way to deal with and take care of animals.  Knowing  the feeding habits of the cattle has helped. Importantly, integrating technology has helped in increasing milk production by over 25%,” explained Duliben. 

Amritaben agrees that the training has helped them understand the methods in which animals could be taken care of.

“The direct result of taking care of animals with sensitivity is an overall increase in milk production.” she added.

(The article was originally published in 'The Gujarat'  Quarterly, Issue 11, July, 2013)