Gender Related Constraints and Opportunities Along Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia Vaccine Value Chain in Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

This work aimed at improving the small ruminant livestock value chains in Machakos by establishing interventions in animal health and women empowerment through their opportunities in vaccine value chain (VVC).The study evaluated the roles, constraints and opportunities for women and men, along the Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia vaccine value chain (CCPP_VVC). Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Outcome mapping (OM), focus meal (FM), and key informant interviews (KII) were used to appreciate the context of vaccination in the area. 228 participants were consulted including VVC stakeholders and model farmers. Principal takeholders identified included the vaccine manufacturers, vaccine importers, distributors, agro vets, public veterinary services, private veterinarians, local leaders and farmers. Woman Empowerment in Livestock Index survey was calculated from 300 households whose data was selected from 398 interviewees(KEVEVAPI, distributors in Machakos County agro-vets, vaccinators and, mostly small-scale women farmers). 8% of farmers were found to have access to vaccine but only 1% of them had easy access. 84% of farmers had low access to the vaccine suppliers. The findings revealed that among barriers for access to vaccine are lack of awareness, knowledge about vaccine, lack of finance, government inability to meet the demand and low veterinarians (particularly women) /farmer ration in the public sector. The conclusion was a need to develop an understanding gender disaggregated level of contribution by men and women to the value chain and how the benefits of contribution areshared. Such knowledge is important to empower women’s participation in the VVC and also to increase vaccine access to smallholder farmers and consequently improve goats’ production and the wellbeing of farmers’ families.