Gender-Specific Labour Dynamics in Zambian Livestock Production: Empirical Evidence

Abstract

This study investigates gender-specific labour dynamics in Zambia’s livestock sector, a critical yet underexplored dimension of agricultural production and rural livelihoods. Drawing on World Development Indicators (1990–2024), the analysis applies an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework to assess the impact of men’s and women’s labour contributions on livestock productivity. Results reveal that female employment in agriculture exerts a significant positive effect on livestock production in the long run, underscoring women’s indispensable role in sustaining daily animal care and management. However, women’s unpaid contributions as family workers, though essential for short-term operations, do not translate into long-term productivity gains, largely due to structural exclusion from decision-making and limited access to land, credit, and extension services. Male employment in agriculture and both male and female family labour show stronger short-run effects, reflecting men’s influence in market-oriented tasks and household labour’s role in immediate livestock upkeep. Control variables such as agricultural land and cereal yield further reinforce productivity linkages through feed availability and grazing space. Policy implications highlight the urgent need for gender-sensitive livestock policies that enhance women’s access to productive resources, formally recognize unpaid labour, and promote equitable participation.