Understanding smallholder dairy productivity and poverty reduction in Eritrea

Improving the poverty status of smallholder dairy farmers in Eritrea necessitates an increase in dairy production efficiency. This study investigated the influence of empowerment programs on small­holder dairy production, specifically those aimed at fostering the development of knowledge and skills for both male- and female-headed households. The Abbreviated Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI) and an instrumental variable esti­mator (IVE) were used to analyze data collected from 379 households in three Eritrean communi­ties. The findings show that male household heads are more empowered than their female counter­parts. Analysis at the Zoba (regional) level showed disempowerments for all households in Anseba (65.42%), followed by Debub (57.02%) and Maekel (33.11%). Empowerment had a positive effect on labor productivity among male- and female-headed households, resulting in increases of 11.50% and 18.49%, respectively, and on poverty reduction, with empowerment increases of 10.57% and 9.91%, respectively. In addition, the level of educa­tion, the farmers’ age, and the price of milk had a negative effect on labor productivity among male and female dairy farmers. Dairy experience, labor cost, and membership in a cooperative had a posi­tive effect on the labor productivity of male farm­ers. Herd size (with a positive coefficient), type of dairy production practice, and perception of gov­ernment policies on dairy farming (with negative coefficients) were essential factors that affected labor productivity among male and female dairy farmers in Eritrea. Land rent, frequency of exten­sion visits, milk unit price, dairy experience, and number of lactating cows affected asset accumula­tion among Eritrean dairy farmers. We recommend context-specific innovative empowerment strate­gies to boost productivity and market access and reduce poverty, particularly for female farmers. Gender disparities in Eritrean dairy farming show that women face greater disempowerment. Involv­ing more women in these strategies can reduce the gender gap, promote gender equality, and support sustainable development in Eritrea.