WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION

LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT AND ITS HARMFUL EFFECTSON THEIR HEALTH: A CASE STUDY OF TOBA TEK SINGH

Abstract

Livestock production is of paramount importance in minimizing the vulnerability
of poor and marginalized people in remote rural areas. Women play an active role in managing
and care taking of the herd by participating in different activities of livestock management. The
growing population is exerting pressure on all the resources and in future, it is expected that the
livestock demand will also increase for fulfilling the demands of masses. Due to women’s crucial
role in livestock management activities, they are more susceptible to zoonotic diseases. The
zoonotic diseases are becoming a threat by becoming responsible for the death of 2.2 million
people every year and majority of the victims belong to developing countries. Objectives: To
find out health related issues while participating in livestock management activities. Study
Design: Survey. Period: 2011-2012. Methods: The present study was conducted in rural areas
of district Toba Tek Singh. One Union Council (UC) and three villages from the selected UC were
selected by using simple random sampling technique. The sample size of the study was 120
respondents of rural females having forty respondents from each village. Results: The study
revealed that majority of the respondents was involved in grazing and fodder cutting activities
and they are satisfied with their role. It was also noted that the highly educated respondents were
more secure from diseases than that of less educated and illiterate respondents. Conclusion:
It is the sole responsibility of the government and public sector department to run campaign
regarding livestock diseases to whom human are susceptible so that the risks regarding this
situation may be minimized.