Examining the Effectiveness of Women Empowerment through Comprehensive Rural Development Programmes: A Case Study of Women Dairy Projects in Keemba Area of Monze
Authors: - LANGTON BANDA , - KELVIN CHIBOMBA 
Published: February 2025

Livestock sector accounts for about 3% to the agriculture’s share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Zambia. The sector provides essential food products such as meat and milk, raw materials such as hides and skins, blood meal and horns and sustains employment and incomes of the rural population in the livestock areas. Through animal draught power and as a source of organic manure, it contributes directly to increased agricultural production in general and food security in particular. Mixed crop and livestock farming is widespread among small–scale farmers in the country. The dairy sub–sector plays a major part in the livestock sector. Production of milk for the market is dominated by smallholders largely due to more farmers joining the dairy co– operatives/farmer groups. It is estimated that smallholder dairy farmers contribute about 50% of the marketed milk (150 million litres), 23% is supplied by large–scale commercial farmers, while the remaining 27% is imported as milk and milk products. The aim of the study is to assessing the effectiveness of women empowerment through comprehensive Rural Development Programmes. This is a case study of women dairy projects in Keemba Area of Monze. Specific objectives include; To identify the effects of women dairy projects in improving livelihoods; To discover types of support offered to dairy women farmers in the projects and, To find out challenges faced by women in dairy projects. The research design appropriate for this research was descriptive design. The target population is a group of objects from which samples are taken for measurement. The research site for the study is Keemba in Monze. The study targeted women in dairy. The sample size is 50 subjects from the projects. These are primarily women in dairy business from the 10 clubs in Keemba. Data collected was put into excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) application for analysis. The data collected through open ended questions was analyzed using narrative and thematic approach using STATA software. Analyzing using thematic areas allowed the researcher to identify, analyze and report patterns within the data. When respondents were asked to indicate the type of support needed for dairy women farmers in the projects. 32% accounting for about 16 respondents indicated purchasing their products and services. 30% accounting for 15 respondents stressed educating them on how best to market their products while those who indicated provision of access to funds such as CDF accounted for 38% being represented by 19 respondents and were the majority. With regard to challenges faced by women in dairy products, the study shows that 32% of the respondents indicated lack of loans. 24% indicated high rate of interest, while 14% reported marketing of dairy products. Meanwhile, 20% accounted for those respondents who claimed unavailability of skilled labour while 10% reported lack of knowledge about vaccination. Recommendations include involving both women and men appropriately in consultation, design and monitoring processes is crucial.