Gender [im]balance in productive and reproductive labor among livestock producers in Colombia: Implications for climate change responses
This info note (PDF) by CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), provides an account on gender division of labor in livestock production and household activities in Colombia. Even though men and women undertake the production in the livestock sector jointly, the roles and responsibilities in livestock production and household maintenance are segregated along gender lines. In general, men’s labor participation is higher in pasture management, livestock care and management, production of meat and buying and selling of animals. Women combine livestock production, particularly, milk processing activities with the responsibility of household and care work. Therefore, men’s and women’s indirect contribution to the household and care provision to family members is crucial for healthy and smooth functioning of livestock productive activities, this must be accounted for in policy decisions, including those related to changing climate. As a response to climate change induced drought, men, and particularly women, are investing their labor in alternative sources of income to pay for water provision services to meet the water demands of their animals. For women who already face the double burden of productive and reproductive work, this coping mechanism may deepen their time poverty. These preliminary findings on the gender division of labor have important policy implications. The policy consideration of both men’s and women’s direct and indirect contributions to livestock production is crucial to avoid any unintended climate change policy consequences and ensure successful response to technology adoption.