Role of Rural Women In

Poverty Alleviation Through

Keeping of Livestock

Prepared by:
Liaqat Ali Shah Hamdani,
Participant of 82nd Advance Course in
Public Sector Management.
National Institute of Public Administration,
Lahore.
 Table of Contents
Page No.
Acknowledgement 1
Introducction 2
Chapter 1 Poverty In Rural Areas 4

1.1 What is Poverty? Definition 4

1.2 Spread & Extent 5
1.3 Women and Poverty 8
1.4 Poverty in Rural Areas 9
1.5 Women in Rural Economy 10
Chapter 2 Importance Of Livestock Sector In 12
Rural Economy And Poverty Reduction
2.1 Livestock & National Scenario 12
2.2 Economic Prospects 15
2.3 Role of Women in keeping of Livestock 18
Chapter 3 Government Strategies To Uplift Rural 20
Women Through Keeping Of Livestock
3.1 Policy Overview 20
3.2 Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) 21
3.3 Micro Finance Institutions 29
3.4 Projects Completed 30
3.5 On-going Projects 32
3.6 Further Steps Taken – Provision of Animals 32
through District Zakat Committees
3.7 Training for the Women 33
3.8 Development Projects 33

Chapter 4 How Women Help Reduce Proverty 35

Through Livestock – A Case Study On PRSP
4.1 Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) 35
4.2 Why Micro Credit? 36
4.3 Women and Credit 36
4.4 Role of Women in Livestock Department 37
4.5 Statistical Overview of PRSP Credit 38
4.6 Economic Impacts 38
4.7 Social Impacts 40

Chapter 5 Conclusions and Recommendations 43

Bibliography 46
Acknowledgement

In conducting the research and preparing this paper, I acknowledge the

valuable contributions made by Doctor Amjad Saqib, a D.M.G Officer

presently working as Regional Manager PRSP Lahore region without his

active support it was not possible to identify the strategies required to

uplift the plight of rural women.

Special thanks to Mr. Ikhlaq Ahmad Tarar Secretary Livestock, and Dairy

Development Government of the Punjab a resource person who helped to

know the importance of Livestock sector in National Economy.

I also thank Ms. Rehana Samad for guiding on various issues while

conducting the research and writing the research paper.

 Introduction
Pakistan is an Agriculture, country and incom from agriculture is
roughly one fourth of G.D.P – Pakistan’s economy is still Agro based and
its growth rate is largely influenced by the Productively of Agriculture
sector. Besides that Pakistan is a highly populous country and is
catagorised as a low income developing country and according to the
latest UNDP report 2002, Pakistan occupies 138th psition out of 173
countries in terms of Human Development index. Incidence of poverty
has increase manifold with the rapid increase in population and roughly
35% of the population of our country lives below the poverty line.
Majority of the population dwells is rural areas and incidence of poverty
is very high in rural areas as compared to urban centres. Half of the
population of rural areas consists of woman folk. Various strategies are
required to uplift the plight of rural population and to help them get out
of this vicious circle of poverty. Empowering women to earn more
through an institutional arrangement in various fields can be a very
significant step towards poverty alleviation.

Livestock is a very important sub-sector of the Agro rural economy and

makes up 37.7 percent cent of the agriculture income and 9.3 percent
of G.D.P. It is the second largest contributor to agriculture sector after
crops.

By active policy attention strengthen and expanding Micro-Credit

support programmes and encouraging private sector participation and
specially targeting rural women who already are totally involving in
livestock activity, the burden of poverty can be lessened.

In the following chapters an effort has been made to link the above
factors and to examine the various strategies and to draw a conclusion.
 CHAPTER - 1

POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS

1.2 What is Poverty? Definition

Poverty constitutes biggest challenge in South Asia, especially in

the countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and India where millions
of people are forced to live in abject conditions. Defining this
elusive concept has always remained a problem. Governments,
Private Organizations and various professionals have tried to
define poverty but no such attempt has fully captured the
dimensions in which it manifests itself. Poverty is not merely
income deprivation as commonly understood. It is a
multidimensional concept, which encompasses economic, political
and social deprivation that are since qua non for a meaningful
existence. The basic human needs include a desire to lead a long
and healthy life, to be educated and to achieve a certain level of
material well being. Other needs such as access to job
opportunities, job security and political and social freedom are
equally essential but more difficult to capture and quantify.
Although insufficient financial resources is a more pronounced
phenomenon, but poor also lack access to basic needs such as
education, health, clean drinking water, and proper sanitation.
This limited access undermines their capabilities, limits their
ability to secure gainful employment, and results in income poverty
and social and political exclusion. This cycle s further exacerbated
when institutions of governance tend to exclude the most
vulnerable from the decision-making process and push them in the
quagmire of poverty and human deprivation. Denial of basic
human choices diminishes the possibility for the betterment of
 human lives. It is this very denial that both makes and keeps
people poor and vulnerable. Hence, in its broader perspective
poverty is defined as denial of opportunity and inability of people
to make choices and take decisions that effect their lives.

1.2 Spread & Extent

The burden of poverty is spread unevenly among the regions and

countries of world. Within region and countries, the poor are
often concentrated in urban slums or in far flung rural areas.
When choices and opportunities are denied on the basis of
location, ethnicity, social class, political affiliation, or religious
orientation, the weight of poverty falls most heavily on certain
groups. Amongst these groups women in general are most
disadvantaged and isolated. In poor households, they often
shoulder more of the workload than men, are less educated and
have less access to remunerative activities. Girls, too, suffer
disproportionately and the future quality of their lives is comprised
by inadequate nutrition, health care and education. Nearly half of
the work’s poor, live in South Asia, a region that accounts for
roughly 30% of world’s population. In Pakistan 42 million people
or roughly 30 percent of the population are income poor; 47
million adults or 62 percent of the adult population cannot read or
write, 76 percent of the female adult population is illiterate; 8
million children are out of school; 61 million people or 45 percent
of the population have no access to safe drinking water; 54 million
people or 40 percent of the population have no access to even basic
health services; 72 million people or 53 percent of the population
have no access to sanitation; 9 million children under the age of 5
or 38 percent of the under 5 population are malnourished
( ). An analysis of poverty by socio-economic groups
reveals following facts of poverty in Pakistan
( ).
1. Poverty in Pakistan has remained fairly stable during the
1990s, from 29.3% in 1993-94 to 32.2% in 1998-99,
but from then onward there has been sharp increase in its
incidence.

2. Poverty is considerably higher in rural as compared to urban

areas. According to calculations by FBS bases on PIHS data,
poverty headcount in 1998-99 was 36.3% and 22.4% for
rural and urban areas of Pakistan, respectively. Poverty
incidences vary significantly between provinces. NWFP has
the highest rural as well as urban poverty followed by
Punjab. Balochistan data for 1998-99 shows relatively low
poverty, however, poverty in Balochistan is as high as in
NWFP as in other years.

3. The poor have a higher dependency ratio, as households

with a large number of children, and single earning member,
are more likely to be poor. On average, the poor have almost
five household members less than 18 years of age, While the
number for the non-poor is three. Average number of
births by a poor woman (married and of age 15-49) is almost
five, compared to four for a non-poor woman.

4. More than one third of the poor households are headed by

aged persons who are dependent on transfer incomes, such
as pensions and other forms of social support.

5. Education is the most important factor that distinguishes

the poor from the non-poor. The percentage of literate
household heads is 27 poor households while for non-poor
households it is 52.

6. The poor are also characterized by relatively low access to

health related infrastructure, like sanitation. While 76% of
the poor live in households with no toilet with flush,
 compared to 53% of the non-poor. The poor are also less
likely to have access to electricity and gas – 60% and 10 % of
the poor live in households with electricity and gas
connections, compared to 75% and 24% of the non-poor,
respectively.

7. Relatively poor communities also seem to have less access to

health facilities and immunization coverage. 45% of the
children in poor households aged one to five years have been
fully immunized as against 58% in non-poor households.

8. Poverty is (relatively) higher when head of the households are

unskilled agricultural workers, engaged in services,
transport, production, and sales occupation.

9. The non-poor own 0.84 acres of cultivable land per capita,

while the poor own only 0.27 acres per capita. In addition
the poor are less able to diversify their agricultural
production and are thus more susceptible to economic
shocks.

1.3 Women and Poverty

In terms of gender break-ups Pakistani females are much more

deprived than their male counterparts in all areas. Women in
Pakistan have seen virtually no change in the general condition of
their lives. Improvements have been slow throughout last fifty
years and have displayed little variation in pace. Women’s health
indicators have shown the most improvement while education has
lagged behind. Today, 29 percent of women are deprived of
health whereas an alarming 72 percent as against 47 percent of
men are deprived of education. More than half the women in
Pakistan are plagued by poverty of opportunities compared to a
little over a third of men. Clearly, the bulk of human poverty in
Pakistan has a ‘women’s face’. What is indeed worrying is that
 gender gaps for all indicators have risen over the last 25 years. If
poverty reduction is to be the goal of any national policy, women
will need to be specially targeted.

1.4 Poverty in rural areas?

The incidence of poverty in rural areas has almost always been

higher than in the urban areas of Pakistan and three-quarters of
the country’s poor live in rural areas. It is also a fact that the
severity of poverty is greater in rural than urban areas. This is
clearly reflected by the differences in (a) the average level of
household income and consumption and (b) the availability of
public sector infrastructure, subsidies, and services. Perhaps the
most important piece of evidence on rural poverty is that nearly
two-thirds of the rural poor are working agriculture as small
owner-operators, share cropping tenants, and laborers. Based on
the findings of recent studies several generalizations
can be made about the incidence of poverty in rural Pakistan (
).

The rural landless – share cropping tenants and wage

worker – represent a majority of those who can be
regarded a functionally vulnerable, and a high proportion
of them are living in poverty.

While not all, the rural landless are without other assets,
such as livestock and some skills, those who depend on
manual labor may be experiencing particularly severe
poverty. Agricultural laborers and low-skill manual
workers are perhaps the most vulnerable groups in the
rural society.

Small, resource-poor farmers account for perhaps one-

third of the functionally vulnerable in the rural
 population. Their dependence on wage labor has become
an important source of household income.

Among the owners and operators of land, including

tenants, some 75-80 percent of the household income is
generated in agriculture. However considering the total
rural population, more than one-half of the income of
low-income households now comes from non-agricultural
sources, particularly non-farm wages.

1.5 Women in Rural Economy

Role of women in rural economy has never been appreciated to its

fuller extent. Evidence from micro studies has shown that women
in this sector undertake a wide range of activities both in the filed
and at home (Freedman and Wai 1988; Masood 1988; Ali et al.
2986). Their involvement in farm work is lowest in the earlier
stages of crop production when field preparation is largely
undertaken by men but in the later stages of the production cycle
in the harvesting and post harvesting phase their participation is
very high. Home based post harvest operations such as drying,
cleaning and storage of grains are almost exclusively carried out by
women. Their contribution is also significant in seed preparation,
collecting farm yard manure, weeding, harvesting, and various
other farm operations. The extent of female participation in field
work varies by crop and is particularly high in the case of rice,
cotton and vegetables.

Livestock production is largely a woman’s job and, according to

the few available time allocation studies, accounts for a large
proportion of their day. Estimates of time spent on livestock
related activities range between 3 to 5 hours per day (Khan and
Bilquees 1976; Freedman and Wai 1988). Women take primary
responsibility for cutting fodder, cleaning sheds, processing of
animal products, of disease identification, and care of sick
animals. The sale of livestock products is a major source of
earnings for rural women. Evidence from selected villages in
barani areas indicates that on average income generated by women
in livestock production is higher then income contributed by men
though sales of crops (Freedman and Wai 1988). Sales of animal
products on average comprised 17 % of household income as
compared to 11 percent of
total earnings contributed by sale of farm output
( ).

This dismal scenario with reference to role of village women needs

to be analyzed for systematic and progressive improvements. Any
effort for poverty alleviation without incorporating women’s role is
destined to end in futility. Unless women are enabled to harness
their potential, the rural scene will always remain pathetic and full
of injustices.
 CHAPTER - 2

IMPORTANCE OF LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN

RURAL ECONOMY AND POVERTY
ALLEVIATION

Livestock is an integral component of the rural system and its role rural
economy may be realized from the fact that 30-35 million rural
population is involved in livestock raising having household holdings of
2-3 cattle/buffalo and 5-6 sheep/goats per family deriving 30-40
percent of their income from it. Livestock provides milk, meat and eggs,
which are the source of animal proteins with high biological values. It is
also a base for industrial raw materials like; wool, hide, skin, leather etc,
and a source of organic fertilizer, Livestock also provides security
against crop failures and financial support in hard times of the farmers.
As such livestock development for socio-economic reasons is the driving
force for rural development. Since livestock is mostly raised by women,
especially in poor households, it is closely linked with economic
empowerment and social well being of women folk.

2.1 Livestock & National Scenario

Livestock include cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, horses,

asses and mules. Livestock raising is primarily a traditional
subsistence activity to meet household food needs and supplement
farm income. Almost every household owns some livestock and
particularly women in rural areas are intimately engaged in raising
livestock and poultry. Despite neglect, livestock has emerged as a
rapidly growing sub-sector. It almost achieved envisaged targets of
eighth 5-year plan (93-98). Meat production exceeded by 38
percent with growth rate of 8.7 percent. Poultry production grew
at the rate of 22.8 percent per annum and milk production
increased by 6.5 percent annually. Poultry production has
emerged as a good substitute for beef and mutton. Its significance
may be assessed from the fact that almost every family in rural
areas is engaged in poultry production in one way or the other.
Over the years, a steady shift has been observed from traditional
crop sector to livestock and horticultural crops.

As per Economic Survey of Pakistan 2000-01, the country

produced 226.28 million tones of milk, 1.01 million tones of beef,
0.66 million tones of mutton and 0.33 million tones of poultry
meat. National Task Force (1993) reports reveals that despite
stagnation/declining productivity of agricultural crops, the
livestock sector achieved an increase of 21 percent during the last
decade and these increases have been instrumental in ensuring
subsistence security and alleviation of poverty in Pakistan’s rural
setting.

About 80 percent livestock is primarily raised by the small farmers

or landless poor people. As compared to landholdings, livestock is
found to be more evenly distributed. Generally, the raising of
livestock is traditional for subsistence and commercialization is
only limited around urban and peri-urban areas. The position
about Livestock population and its stock pattern are indicated in
Table 1 and 2, respectively.

Table-1 Livestock population of Pakistan with percentage

share of Punjab
SPECIES PAKISTAN PUNJAB SHARE OF
(MILLION) (MILLION) PUNJAB (percent)
CATTLE 20.4 09.38 46
BUFFALO 20.3 13.10. 67
SHEEP 23.5 06.14 26
GOAT 41.2 15.30 37
Source: Livestock Census – 1996

Table – 2 Stock Pattern of Livestock

HERRD SIZE PAKISTAN PUNJAB (percent)

1–2 43 47
3–4 28 29
5–6 13 12
Above 6 16 12

Source: Livestock Census – 1996

Approximately 5 million families in Punjab (about 40 million

people) are dependent on livestock for livelihood.
Pakistan has the finest breeds of Nili-Ravi and Kundi Buffalo and
Sahiwal, Red Sindhi & Tharparkar Breeds cattle. Punjab is rich in
natural resource of livestock and possesses the world-renowned
dairy breed of Nili-Ravi buffalo as well as Sahiwal & Cholistani
cattle. These breeds are well adapted to harsh/humid climate,
tolerant to ticks, resistant to tropical diseases and are good
converters of poor quality roughages to milk and meat and women
find them quite easy to handle and nurture. Despite huge
population their unit productivity is very low. The National herd
average is around 1800 litre per lactation in buffaloes and 1100
litre per lactation in cows. However, in good managemental
practices the buffalo has the potential of producing more than
5000 litres with 6.5 percent butter fat per lactation and cows with
more than 3000 litres with 4.5 percent butter fat in a lactation.
Buffalo has emerged as the major dairy animal followed by cross-
bred cattle. There is tremendous potential for raising unit
productivity of local breeds of buffalo and cattle provided livestock
sector is transformed from traditional towards commercial setting.
Besides large animals, the province has beetal goat, which has the
potential to produce 5-litre of milk per day. Likewise, Dera Din
Panah and Teddy goats are good producers of mutton, Kajli, Lohi,
 Thali and Salt range breeds of sheep are a good source of carpet
wool and mutton.

2.2 Economic Prospects

Livestock contributes 36 percent towards agricultural GDP and 9

percent in National GDP. In 1999-2000, the net foreign exchange
earnings from livestock sector were to the tune of Rs.39.5 billion,
which is almost 9 percent of the overall export of the country. It
achieved a growth rate of 4.8 percent against the target of 2.8
percent during the year 2000-01. The province of Punjab alone is
the major producer of livestock products as depicted in Table-3

Table –3. Livestock & Poultry Products during 2000-01.

PRODUCT UNIT PAKISTAN PUNJAB SHARE

Milk (Million Ton) 26.28 16.363 62.26
Beef (Million Ton) 1.01 0.44 62.56
Mutton (Million Ton) 0.66 0.21 31.81
Poultry (Million Ton) 0.33 0.22 66.66

Source: Economic Survey 2000-01, MINFALL Islamabad.

As per Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) estimates, Pakistan is the

7th biggest milk producing country among the world’s top 10 dairy
countries.

The World’s Top Ten Dairy Countries

USA 70
India 70
Russia 32
Germany 29
France 25
Brazil 21
Pakistan 20
Ukraine 16
UK 15
Poland 12
 Interestingly, amongst the Livestock products, milk alone has the
value exceeding that of the major crops as shown in Table-4
Table – 4. Value of Malk as Compared to Major Crops

COMMODITY PRODUCTION RATE TOTAL VALUE

Milk 26.00 (Million Ton) Rs.7,500/Ton Rs.195 Billion
Wheat 18.50 (Million Ton) Rs.7,500/Ton Rs.139 Billion
Mutton 4.80 (Million Ton) Rs.8,000/Ton Rs.38 Billion
Poultry Meat 43.60 (Million Ton) Rs.890/Ton Rs.39 Billion
Cotton 10.70 (Million Ton) Rs.725/Bale Rs.78 Billion

Source: Production Figures, Economic Survey 2000-01.

2.2 Income of the farmers drived from livestock is 30 to 40 percent.
This shows that increasing the production and development of
livestock sector can immensely increase the over all income of
the farmers which in tern can boost the over all growth rate.
Livestock being the second largest, contributor to agriculture after
crops, its performance compensated to some extent the fall in
agricultural production, with strong growth in poultry products
(while meat and eggs) all other components of livestock, both in
terms of population and products, showed a positive growth.
Another very important, aspect is that as livestock is less
vulnerable to adverse weather conditions compared to crops, this
creates an alternate source of rural income and is also able to
diversify the farmers risk portfolio. Despite the limited policy
attention on livestock, this subsector has grown by average, growth
rate of 6.4 percent during the past ten years and in doing so,
clearly out – performed all other sub – section of agriculture.

The strong performance of livestock sector indicates the robust

growth potential particularly for the export and a important tool for
poverty alleviation. Being less land intensive and comprising of a
diversified basket of out put this sub sector has attracted sufficient
interest in terms of corporate farming.
2.3 Role of Women in Keeping of Livestock

Women have been traditionally linked with livestock keeping in

rural areas, though their role has never been acknowledged and
appreciated. The participatory role of the women in the rural
economy is conditioned with several factors; agro-ecological zones,
land tenure system, education, physical infrastructure, adoption of
technologies, farm mechanization and the stage of agro-industrial
development. There is, however, an overall dearth of precise
information on women and the role they play in Livestock raising.
In Pakistan, the rural women constitute 36 percent of the total
population and only 8-10 percent can just read and write. Several
studies have documented that rural women participate more in
livestock related activities than crop production activities. The
findings about the role of women in livestock and farming activities
in a recently conducted study “Base Line Survey of Livestock
Management in the Rain Farming System of Pothwar and
Shakargarh, Punjab” commissioned by GTZ in 1999 are given as
under:-
i. Majority of the sample women were illiterate.

ii. Females are playing prominent role in crop weeding and

harvesting activities.

iii. Participation of rural women in Livestock related activities

are much more than crop production activities.
iv. Rural women devote considerable time to activities such as
watering shed cleaning, making dung cakes, collecting farm-
yard manure, maintenance of animal sheds, milking and
milk processing.
v. Women are consulted in almost all decision-making
areas regarding livestock.
vi. Women are consulted for animal buying, animal health care
and use of income from livestock.
vii. Women indicated that animal diseases and lack of veterinary
facilities are major constraints to enhancing livestock
productivity.

It can safely be concluded from the findings that women can play
a much wider role in promotion of livestock provided they are given
credit facilities to buy livestock and their knowledge about better
practices is improved through short and long term trainings. It
can also be concluded that any improvement in livestock is bound
to reduce poverty and bring prosperity to poor households in rural
areas. Dimensions of poverty, as outlined in chapter one, can
certainly be addressed by investments in livestock through rural
women. This aspect is further discussed in next chapters.
 CHAPTER - 3

GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES TO UPLIFT THE

PLIGHT OF RURAL WOMEN THROUGH
KEEPING OF LIVESTOCK.

3.1 Policy Overview

Though women are an essential part of the country’s economy,

their share in economic benefits, opportunities and access to
resources is not proportionate to their share in the population.
Various governments in Pakistan have not been concerned with
rural women’s role either in agriculture or in livestock. For the
first time in the federal government’s Eighth Five-year Plan, 1993-
98, the world ‘women’ was mentioned in the chapter on
Agriculture. In the Report on Agriculture presented by the
Working Group for the Ninth five-year Plan, women were not even
mentioned in the production of food and care of livestock. There
was no mention of women’s contribution in the Eighth Plan’s
achievements in wheat, rice livestock, etc. Women were not
alluded to when proposing agricultural training and extension.
‘Status of women, who play a key role in rural economy, is low’ was
the only sentence referring to women’s position in agriculture.
However, there is growing realization that women constitute an
important player in development domain and their proactive role
needs to be promoted. If poverty is to be alleviated. Current
policies of government envisage:

i) Providing adequate relief and safety measures to alleviate the

disproportionate impact of poverty on women by ensuring
access of poor rural women to land, agricultural and
 livestock extension services and support mechanisms and
facilities.
ii) Providing women easy access to micro-credit and livestock
related trainings through available windows such as
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF); Rural Support
Programmes (RSPs); First Women Bank (FWB); Agricultural
Development Bank (ADB) and Khushali Bank.

Since micro-credit and capacity building are most direct

interventions hence, it is pertinent to examine the intended
role of these organizations for facilitating women’s access to
credit and other facilities, which ultimately enhance their
household income.

3.2 Rural Support Programmes (RSPs)

Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) have been a major actor

engaged by government to promote much-needed link between
rural women and livestock raising. RSPs do this by creating an
enabling environment and linking rural women with banks for
credit facility and with government departments and professional
bodies for capacity building and training.
The RSP Network has been set up the Rural Support Programmes
(RSPs) of Pakistan. It comprises professionals who have extensive
experience in participatory rural development. The Network was
set up to meet the need for programme quality guidance and
strategic support to the RSPs because of their expansion and the
diversification of their programme portfolios. The Network is
owned by ten Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) of Pakistan, all of
which are represented on its board and is funded by the
Department for International Development (DfID), UK.
Goal & Purpose

The goal of the Network is to facilitate the RSPs in their objective of

improving sustainable livelihoods of the poor in Pakistan. The
Network is, therefore, a capacity building organization.

In partnership with the RSPs, the Network works towards the

enhancement of their capacities to support communities in
managing their own development and it disseminates key lessons
and best practice from the RSP community to government and
non-government organizations in Pakistan and abroad.

Following institutions are included in RSPs Network:

(1) Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).

The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme is a private, non-

commercial, non-profit company, established by the Aga Khan
Foundation, to help improve the quality of life of the people of the
Northern Areas and Chitral. It was established with the mandate
to focus on economic and institutional development of local
communities in collaboration with government departments,
elected bodies, and national and international development
agencies. SKRSP has, over the years, acted as a catalyst for
integrated rural development, organizing local, human, physical
and financial resources in order to enable communities bring
about their own development in an equitable and sustainable
manner. Major programme components include social
organization, women’s development, natural resource
management, with special focus on livestock development of
productive physical infrastructure, human resource development,
enterprise promotion and credit and savings services.
(2) Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP)

BRSP was initiated in 1991 but its activities had to be suspended

after two years. The revitalized BRSP has started operations near
Quetta, and is in the process of mobilizing communities to
undertake activities for community infrastructure, micro-credit,
and capacity building. BRSP is balancing its current operations to
build upon the successes of the legacy of BRSP, particularly in
human resource and skill development among other
accomplishments. Initially, during the earlier operations of BRSP
during the 1991-97 period, more than five hundred COs had been
formed. BRSP now intends to expand its programme to ensure
implementation of quality interventions to reach the deserving
communities of Balochistan, including reactivating the old COs.
In deep interlined and far-flung rural areas of Balochistan, there is
tremendous opportunity for organizing women and involve them in
livestock promotion.

3. The ABBP puts greater emphasis on loaning to small formers

and bank has liberalized its policies to make credit more
accessible, to rural women, who have very little access to
formal credit despite their major contribution to the rural
economy. The bank disbursed Rs.527 Million to 15,472
rural women upto 30.06.2002. To assist in national poverty
alleviation programme, ADBP has introduced a nation wide
Micro Finance scheme (MFS) with loans ranging from Rs.
5000/= to Rs.25,000/= loans advanced for the rural poor.
This Programme is designed to supplement. Government
efforts in self – Employment generation and poverty
alleviation. About Rs.500 Million will be disbursed under
this scheme during be financial year 2001-2002
4.
Micro Finance

Lending to women

Keeping in view the proportionate ratio of 50% and prominent role

played, by women in the context of rural economy, the Bank
pushed forward the credit pro. for women through Female MCOs
to enable the rural women to supplement, their house-hold women
by utilizing their labour inputs in financially rewarding activities.
Presently this programme. Is spread over 17 regions and 30
branches of the Bank through 40 Female MCOs). Financing
under this pro. Covers all general loans as well as small scale.
Enterprises (SSEs). The general loans cover Tractors Tubwells
poultry dairy, fishery orchard and, forestry etc. Small scale
Enterprises include, income generating activities on small scale
level carried out by individual women, members of their families
and groups of women in the rural areas 75 items under SSE
loaning Pro. are permissible to women borrowers abound 60
Million was disbursed to 1562 women borrowers through female
MCO’s. Total disbursement since inception upto 30th June 2002
stood at Rs.600 Million in 15472 loan cases. These loans have
greatly helped in boosting rural income of the poorest of the poor
which has helped in poverty alleviation in the rural areas.

(4) Khushhali Bank (KB)

The Khushhali Bank is Pakistan’s most ambitious initiative yet to

uproot poverty from the country using the RSP approach. The
bank intends to extend to30 districts by the end of 2001 and
within 6 years be present across the entire country. Initialed in
Dera Gazi Khan, the Punjab province’s poorest district in August,
2000, the bank will build upon the best practices of existing RSPs
like organizing women’s and investments in livestock. It is
actively collaborating with NRSP and the RSP Network in its
planning, implementation, training and monitoring.

(5) Lochi Poverty Reduction Programme (LPRP)

Initially started under the South Asia Poverty Alleviation
Programme (SAPAP), a UNDP initiative that funded the
establishment of six projects in the SAARC countries, the Lochi
(Kohat District, NWFP) project continues to carry out its poverty
reduction work in activities that include micro-credit physical
infrastructure, natural resource management and capacity
building. Its innovative activities include developing replicable
natural resource management models for arid zones and initiating
physical infrastructure schemes on credit and particular focus on
women and livestock. The project works closely with SRSP,
government line agencies, donor agencies and the banking sector.

(6) National Rural Support Programme (NRSP)

NRSP has nationwide coverage and operates in 14 regions. It has
recently rapidly expanded its coverage through the financial
support of the PPAF particularly in community infrastructure
projects. NRSP was responsible for the establishment of PRSP and
GBTI and is currently working closely with the Khushhali Bank to
set up its operations throughout the country. NRSP also works
with government projects which include in Mardan to assist
GoNWFP under the Swabi SCARP for the formation of Water Users
Association, the Northern Education Project for the establishment
of school management committees in Azad Kashmir and other area
development projects. Innovative includes low-cost sanitation
schemes and management of basic Health Units. With the
support of Learning for life, over 270 community based schools
have been established and with the assistance of a credit line of
Rs.2.2 billion from Habib Bank Limited on lending to poor
communities was increased. NRSPs major activities include social
mobilization, training and capacity building, credit provision and
linking rural population with service providers.

(7) Punjab Rural Support Programme )PRSP)

Punjab Rural Support Programme operates in Punjab and

currently has regions in the province: Lahore, Sahiwal, Sargodha,
Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Muzaffargarh, and
Narowal/Sialkot, covering a total of 20 districts. The RSP has
development strong links with the Punjab Government and is
currently implementing a number of projects with the technical
assistance of line agencies including community based schools,
village infrastructure and natural resource management and
livestock sector improvement activities. It is often cited for its
cost-efficiency, effective M&E systems, rapid expansion in outreach
during the 3 year since its establishment, and high credit recovery
rates.

(8) Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP)

SRSP has developed a close working relationship with the

Government of the Frontier Province. Under the mansehra Village
Support Project (MVSP), SRSP has worked with the Government of
NWFP in Mansehra and Battagram, and similarly under the Barani
Area Development Project it has worked with the Government in
Kohat, Karak, Abbottabad and Haripur districts. This relationship
involved the linking up of CO and WO menders to the
Government’s technical departments to procure training,
demonstrations, inputs and advice. After the expiry of both
projects, institutional mechanisms such as coordination meetings
still exist and these linkages are continuing to endure in these
 areas. In Charsadda, SRSP works independently while
maintaining informal linkages with the Government.

(9) Thardeep Rural Development Project (TRDP)

Thardeep facilitates the formation of Community Organizations at

hamlet and village level. Besides focussing on women
empowerment through credit, TRDP takes ‘human rights’ as an
integral part and basic principle of the programme and
institutional structure and practices, and strives to promote
human values in whatever it does. Its other major activities
include provision of credit, contributing in developing and
promoting physical infrastructure particularly in the area of water
security TRDP operates in the district o Tharparkar through six
field offices in Mithi, Islamkot, Chachro, Chelhar, Dipo and Mithrio
Bhati.

3.3 Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs)

Besides RSPs, few more initiatives have also been taken to improve
women’s access to credit. These are called Micro Finance
Institutions or MFIs. The Pakistan Micro-Finance Network )PMN)
is a network for organizations engaged in micro-finance and
dedicated to improving the outreach and sustainability of micro-
finance in Pakistan. Compared to some other countries, the micro-
finance sector in Pakistan is in the initial stages of development.
Estimates suggested that there are as many as 5.6 million
household in Pakistan who need micro-finance services, but
services reach only a tiny fraction of this population, probably less
than one percent. The PMN has become increasingly active since
1999. With the support from the Asia Foundation (TAF) and the
Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) the network has been able to establish
its membership, activities, and credibility. It has build greater
 awareness among policy makers. Arranged specialized training,
and established initial standards for financial transparency.

Mission & Objectives

The credo of the PMN is to enhance the scale quality, diversity and
sustainability of retail micro-finance, so that women in rural areas
are reached and provided with credit facilities to purchase and
raise livestock.

Following institutions are part of this Network:

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP)

Kashf Foundation
Development Action for Mobilization and Emancipation
(DAMEN)
Orangi Pilot Project (OPP)
Sungi Development Foundation
Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP)
Sindh Agricultural & Forestry Works Coordinating
Organization (SAFWCO)
TARQEE Trust
Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP)
National Rural Support Programme (NRSP
3.4 Project Completed

“Attainment of food security and alleviation of poverty in rural

areas are the corner stone of the departmental policy remarked the
Secretary to Government of the Punjab, Livestock and Dairy
Development Department during his interview with the author of
this report. Accordingly, efforts have been made in the past for
ensuring active participation of women in different aspects of
livestock development. A GTZ assisted project titled “Pattoki
Livestock Production Project” was launched in more than 100
villages of Pattoki district Kasur from July, 1983 to December,
1992 with the main objective of raising income of small livestock
farmers by increasing livestock production. Among other
functional sections, the women section imparted training to 18035
women in the field of “feeding and management techniques in
livestock”. The selected women were also taken to Livestock
Production Research Institute, Bahadurnagar and dairy
cooperatives. The Women section provided 234 goats to the
trained women for raising their livelihood as well as enhancing
income.

For involvement of women in modern agriculture and advanced

livestock farming techniques, a development project “strategies of
involving rural women in agricultural economic development
activities” costing Rs.49.13 lacs was carried out in district Vehari
during 1990-91 to 1992-93. This project was sponsored by
UNICEF and private sector. In this scheme. Poor and landless
women of the target villages were provided with poultry units and
teddy goats on credit basis. The females in the project area were
especially trained in rural poultry keeping and goat husbandry
through the collaboration of L&DD, department. This project
created a positive impact in raising income of the poor women in
the project area.

Another scheme titled “Livestock Development Project” assisted by

ADP was launched in ten district of Punjab during the period from
1991-1998. The project area was comprised of district; Multan,
Khanewal Sahiwal, Vehari, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara,
Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tak Singh. In this project, Women
Livestock Production Officers (WLPO) were specifically trained and
engaged for promotional activities of livestock in the project area
for imparting training to the women in areas of poultry (chick
 feeding/brooding hen), management of sheep/goat. Likewise, the
women were provided with women oriented extension packages.

3.5 On Going Project

An IFAD assisted development scheme titled “Barani village

development project” is under implementation in six tehsils (Atock,
Pindighep, Talla Gang, Gujar Khan, Jhand and Pind Dadan Khan)
since 1994. This project has a gestation period of 1994 to 2004.
The project is aimed at improving the status of women through
support for income generating activities. Under this project, 12
lady livestock extensionists have been inducted. These lady
extensionists have been provided 4-month intensive training in
sheep/goat and poultry management. The lady veterinarians work
closely with the members of women community organization
(WCO). Moreover, 19 technical training centers have been
established for imparting vocational training.

3.6 Further Steps Taken - Provision of Animals through

District Zakat Committees

The L&DD, department is actively pursuing the district Zakat

Committees for provision of buffaloes, sheep/goat and poultry
units to the rural women for raising their income. The issue of
poverty alleviation through livestock keeping was discussed in
provincial Zakat Council meeting on 02.02.2002 in which Governor
Punjab was pleased to direct the district Zakat Committees to
focus their attention towards promotion of Livestock keeping by
the rural women. In this end, each district has been given the
targets of provision and maintenance of 100 cows/buffaloes for the
poor rural women and District Livestock Officers have been
directed for provision of all types of technical assistance and
cooperation to the district Zakat Committees. Moreover, District
Livestock Officers are bound to provide regular training at the
 doorsteps of rural women in the management of Livestock and
poultry.

3.7 Training for the Women

The department is making efforts for designing special training

courses for the rural as well s urban women through their lady
Veterinarians. These lady Veterinarians are acting as master
trainers for expansion of the training activities. Furthermore, the
training centres of the department have been specially directed for
preparation of training module and ensuring short courses.

The newly established University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences,

Lahore has been requested for the preparation of special courses
for women in the area of Livestock and Poultry keeping leading to
certificates and diplomas.

3.8 Development Project

A development project for “training of female extension workers for

Livestock in Barani area of Punjab” costing Rs.20.00 million is
being processed for inclusion in ADP. In this project, 300 female
extension workers will be trained in area of Livestock/Poultry
management and extension work for improving income of the rural
women in the project area. The project envisages to increase the
income of village women through sale of milk and sale of fattened
goat/sheep at the eve of Edi-Ul-Azha.
 CHAPTER - 4

HOW WOMEN HELP REDUCE POVERTY

THORUGH LIVESTOCK – A CASE STUDY ON
PRSP
4.1 Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP)

Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) is working for poverty

alleviation in rural areas of the Punjab province. This objective is
achieved through different interventions such as organizing village
community members into small groups, developing their capital
base through saving and credit, developing human resources, and
linking rural communities with the private and public sector
agencies.

PRSP was incorporated in November 1997 as a non-profit

organization and registered under Section 42 of the Companies
Ordinance 1984. It is currently operating in 20 district of the
Punjab through eight Regional offices at Lahore, Gujranwala,
Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Multan and Muzaffargarh.

PRSP is yet another replication of the Rural Support Programme

(RSP) proven successful through nearly two decades of community
organization and empowerment. The philosophy is designed to
enable organization of poor village communities through
rediscovery of community consciousness, common aspirations
and ambitions before providing access to skill development, credit
and technical support. The purpose of such a support system is to
initiate and sustain a process of diversified growth of economic,
human and natural resources of the poor
4.2 Why Micro Credit

After social mobilization and organizing people into like-minded

groups, micro credit is the most important interventions
undertaken by PRSP. There is emerging consensus that access to
credit for self-employment and other financial and business
services given the poorest families an opportunity to overcome the
cruelties of extreme poverty. Millions of people around the world,
especially the women, have been able to bring about a substantial
change in their lives through micro credit. Micro credit however is
much more that mere access to money; it is about the poor gaining
control over the means to make a living; it is about under
privileged lifting themselves out of poverty and vulnerability; it is
about women achieving economic and political empowerment
within their homes, their villages and their countries.

4.3 Women and Credit

Credit facilities for women in rural areas are almost non-existent in

Pakistan. Very few institutional arrangements have been made to
establish credit-lending facilities for rural women. A major
constraint in women’s access to credit is requirement of physical
collateral especially in the form of land ownership Lending
institutions view women as high credit risks on account of
illiteracy and poor market related skills. Tradition and custom
also limit women’s control over money matters, especially with
regard to the mobility and interaction required to access credit
facilities.
Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) has extensive experience
of working with the rural women with the aim of harnessing their
potential to understand and overcome the elements hindering their
development. It strives to address gender imbalance by ensuring
 women’s participation in social organization, capital formation
through saving and credit, skill development, participatory
planning and management.

4.4 Role of Women in Livestock Development

Livestock production is the second biggest economic activity after

crop husbandry for rural population in Pakistan. Livestock and
poultry are raised primarily as a source of cash income and for
getting milk and meat. In rural areas of Punjab women are, in
general, responsible for livestock rearing. According to findings of
a study, a rural women in Punjab works about 15 hours a day,
spending about 5.30 hours in caring for livestock. Women
involved in caring and rearing of livestock and poultry, carry out
wide range of tasks such as feeding, collecting fodder, grazing,
cleaning animals and their sheds, marking dung cakes, securing
them properly for use as fuel, collecting manure milking,
processing and even marketing of animal products (making &
selling ghee, butter etc.) Village women are responsible for about
60% to 80% of the feeding and milking of cattle. Rural women are
observed to be heavily involved in almost all aspects of livestock
production, with the exception of herding and marketing, since
these tasks require absence from the home.

4.5 Statistical Overview of PRSP Credit

Against this backdrop and keeping in view the objective of women

empowerment and self-reliance, PRSP provides credit to women.
So far, PRSP has advanced total credit worth Rs.104.957 million to
6.246 borrowers for different small-scale enterprises of their
choice. It includes 2.100 female credit beneficiaries. Female get
credit mostly for livestock. So far1,470 (or 70%) female have taken
 credit for livestock development. Following table shows detail of
credit provided to rural women in livestock sector.

Sr. Purpose Amount (Rs.) No. of

No. Borrowers
MILCHING ANIMALS
1. Buffaloes 20,353,000 1369
2. Cows 280,000 20
FATTENING
1. Calves 504,000 51
2. Goats/Sheep 402,000 30
Total 21,539,000 1,470

4.6 Socio-Economic Impact

All these activities make women an ideal choice for entrusting the
task of raising livestock as an individual enterprise. Adding one or
two animals in the household assets yieds significant economic
gains without causing hardship in the shape of physical inputs.
Women have always welcomed the idea of keeping and raising
livestock provided they have an expanded financial base to carry
out such a venture.

Investment in livestock sector through micro-finance has

successfully improved the lot of poor households in rural areas.
This is especially true in case of households headed by women.
Besides increase in monthly income, it has resulted in asset
generation; making poor families less vulnerable to exogenous
shocks. On the basis of interactive impact assessment surveys
following major benefits have been reported by credit beneficiaries:

i) Increase in monthly income by sale of milk and milk

products.
ii) Availability of milk for domestic use for meeting nutritional
requirements.
iii) Asset creation resulting in better economic status within
the family and outside.
iv) Elevation in social status.
 v) Recognition of women as a productive member of household.
vi) A feeling of self-reliance and empowerment.

Studies undertaken by PRSP show that poor rural women after

utilizing the credit provided by PRSP, are now able to:

Buy basic food items and provide three meals a day for their
families
Buy essential drugs for human and livestock needs
Pay to send their children to schools
Buy clothes for their families from time to time
Participate and celebrate social event, like other better off
families.
Credit women are able to diversify their investments. Some
women other small enterprises such as small shops etc., or
purchase or poultry.
Some have improved and renovated their house furniture
and utensils.

In qualitative terms, the women feel more motivated and content

with their lives. They now have better status in the community,
not only because of the number of livestock they own but on
account of the fact that their contribution to the family income and
welfare is recognized.

4.7 Case Studies

During my visit to those villages along with PRSP staff, I was able
to interview five women who received credit from PRSP and kept
animals for income generation. These interviews underscore that
the philosophy and methodology espoused by RSP’s is viable and
successful. Here are excerpts from these interviews.

Razia Bibi is a resident of village Rakh Rai. Her husband

was jobless. She got credit of Rs.20.000 through PRSP and
purchased a buffalo for selling milk. Now she has a
permanent source of income and saves Rs.2,000 every
month after paying her loan installment. Besides that she
no more needs to buy milk for her own milk.

Abdia Perveen lives same in village. Her husband was a

daily wager. Abida got Rs.20,000 through PRSP as credit
and purchased a buffalo and started selling its milk. She
earns Rs.3,000 per month and after paying her installment
of Rs.1,007 she saves the remaining amount. She also sold
a calf borne by the buffalo. Milk for her own children is now
available too.

Bashiran Bibi is a resident of village Ganjay Sindhu. Her

husband was sick and it was very difficult for Bashiran bibi
to feed her children. She received Rs.15,000 credit through
PRSP and purchased twenty sheep and two baby goats and
reared them. Her husband also helped her. Within a year
and a half, she had a herd of 45 sheep and 4 goats. After
selling ten sheep Bashiran Bibi paid back her loan to PRSP.
Total worth of sheep and goats she now own is more than
Rs.50,000
Kulsoom Fatima is a poor women having six children of
which one is crippled. She used to stitch clothes for other
village women and earned Rs.800 per month. With the
Rs.20,000 credit she got through PRSP, Kulsoom Fatima
purchased a buffalo. She now sells milk and her monthly
income has now increased to Rs.2,500 per month.
Sarwar Bibi is a widow living in village Ladhekey. She has
five children and mother-in-law to feed. She got Rs.15,000
from PRSP as credit and purchased 18 goats. She reared
them for a year. Now she had 25 goats and sold 15 earning
Rs.25,000. She repaid entire loan she received through
PRSP. Now she has a permanent source of income.
 CHAPTER - 5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION

Impact studies found that women are gaining greater say income and
expenditure decisions to the extent of 25 to 30 per cent of household.
Programme women’s participation has increased in expenditure decisions
relating to poultry rearing, schooling of chilfren and health care.

It is expected that women should be out of the poverty trap, reduce credit
dependency, combat the risks on non-repayment due to shock or
disaster when income and consumption for them deline suddenly.

At the other end many programme women are moving up the scale and
their need for credit funds is increasing. Real challenge for the future of
woemn MCPs lies in meeting the need for innovation and diversification
in delivery method and introduction of new MCP products.

Manifold problems of women cannot be overcome only by small grants

and credit support. A package programme consisting of leadership and
managerial development, of rights and laws of education, credit, income,
health and reproductive issues seems to be appropriate for removing
these problems and for stepping up women’s position in the society.
Having noticed the importance of livestock in rural economy and the role
of women in keeping and raising livestock. The following issues had
emerged.

i) There is substantial poverty in rural areas as compared to urban

centres.
ii) Rural women are the prime sufferers.
iii) There is critical dependence on livestock as one third population of
rural areas keep livestock.
iv) Role of Government institutations particularly in livestock keeping
is insufficient as compared to the magnitude of the task.
v) N.G.O’s can be very effective in poverty alleviation e.g. the role of
PRSP has proven that given an opportunity a lot can be achieved.
vi) Ratio of loaning to rural women for the purpose of raising of
livestock is very low as compared to other areas.
vii) Policy attention of the Government is not a priority irrespective of
the importance and contribution of this sector, e.g. very low
percentage of G.D.P is allocated to agriculture sector.

Experiences of RSPs provides sufficient evidence that women can

effectivy be involved in this enterprise. It will help realize their potential
and improve their socio-economic status.

The main challenges faced by the women folk are as follows:-

a) Use non-compatible tools/technology to manage crop and

livestock production activities.
b) Poor health and dietary condition
c) Low literacy level
d) Burden of multiple roles

To reduce their suffering and to make them more productive

appropriately designed research and development efforts are required. It
is recommend that the Government should take further immediate steps
to provide on-site training facilities to enhance their skills in the
management of large and small animals as well as birds. The areas of
improved feedings, management, vaccination and processing of dairy
products need to be addressed.
L&DD, department should launch further development
schemes focussing socio-economic development of women.
RSPs and MFIs are performing excellent work through
creating awareness in the communities and extending credit
facilities. The Government should further expand such rural
support programs in others parts of the province.

Women Bank/Khushali Bank to be persuaded for advancing

loans in the area of dairy/sheep farming fattening of
sheep/goats and calves. SMEDA should approach to
facilitate provision of such credits.

The Government should increase the percentage of

investment to Agriculture sector from 1.77 of the G.D.P to
atleast 5% of the G.D.P.

Government lending through various banks e.g ADBP,

Khushali Bank etc. should be given a quantum jump.

Participative, development through community, local

organization should be enrouraged.
Bibliography

1. Woemn in Muslim Rural Society,

Poseph Ginat.

2. Basic needs and Rural Development,

By M.A.K. Beg.
M.Aziz.

3. Human Resource Development and management in Pakistan, By

M.Aslam Chaudhary.

4. U.N.D.P Report’s regarding poverty alleviation.

5. Studies conducted by Livestock Deaprmtnet.

6. Interview with Secretary Lievestock Department Government of

Punjab.

7. Interview with target groups (PRSP).

8. Interview with Regional General Manager. PRSP Lahore.

***********

Composed by:
Muhammad Amir Sarwar,
P.A to Addl. A.G (Admn.),
O/O the A.G. Punjab, Lahore.