Assessment of gender participation in village chicken production in Ongino sub county, Kumi district.

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the gender participation in village chicken production. The survey focused on social characteristics of households rearing village chicken, determination of the level of women's involvement in daily management of village chicken flocks and level of women's involvement in decision making over use of resources and marketing of village chicken products. Random sampling technique was employed in administering standard questionnaires to 100 households randomly selected the study. Regarding ownership of village chicken, the study showed that women owned majority of the flocks 68%. Women had the highest responsibility in activities like; feeding and watering 54%, letting the chicken out in the morning and in to' the house in the evening 66%, cleaning of chicken houses, collection of eggs, record keeping, monitoring of hens during incubation, taking care of the chicks. The men participated in construction of chicken houses 65%, health management 49%, security of the birds and ensuring that there is breeding cock. The level of women's involvement in decision making over use' of resources and Marketing of chicken products showed women were key decision makers 45% in marketing of chicken and eggs, consumption of chicken and eggs 52% but never had full control over the use of earnings generated from the sale of chicken and eggs, this was the same case to girls and boys. The findings of this study indicated that women performed more activities during the daily management of village chicken flocks as compared to men, boys and girls. Women have limited access and control over the use of resources like finances generated from the sale of chicken and chicken products. The study recommended that all barriers against women should be discouraged when it comes to the area of village chicken production.