Determinants of Livestock Farm Household’s Welfare with Main Focus on Women’s Involvement in Livestock Production in Rural Areas of District Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study was carried out in district Mardan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to investigate determinants of welfare of livestock farm households with special reference to women’s participation in livestock farming. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect a sample of 274 livestock farm households from six union councils of district Mardan. Data were collected through face to face interviews from female members of the selected livestock farm households in 2015-16. Data were analyzed by ordered logit model to determine factors affecting households welfare, measured as daily per capita income level. Variables, such as income generating individuals, milking animals, women participation in livestock farming, education level of the head, age of the head and agricultural land holding of the household, were used as explanatory variables in the model. Results of ordered logit model showed that education level of the head, numbers of income generating individuals, land holding, number of milking animals, women involvement in livestock farming, access to agricultural credit had positive significant effects on household’s probability to be in the upper income category. Based on the findings, study recommends that the significance of women participation for growth in livestock industry should be recognized in government plans and policies. Non-government organization, working for rural development, should be involved in provision of credit and livestock training facilities to rural women and encourage them to participate in livestock production and management. Access to credit will empower women in making pertinent livestock management decisions. Success of livestock venture will support rural economy and improve overall well being of everyone involved.