WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN CATTLE FARMING: A PERSPECTIVE FROM WOMEN OF HA-LUVHIMBI VILLAGE IN THE VHEMBE DISTRICT OF LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Livestock holds immense importance in the lives of rural households in developing countries, serving as a crucial source of agricultural income for generations. This study examines the factors that hinder women's participation in cattle farming in most villages in South Africa. In particular, Ha-Luvhimbi, a village in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, has struggled to accept women who have taken it upon themselves to engage in cattle farming. Guided by social justice theory and feminist standpoint theory, the study explores how gender shapes knowledge, access to resources, farming methods, and the difficulties women face in owning livestock. The study population comprised residents of Ha-Luvhimbi village involved in cattle farming. This study used purposive sampling, a non-probability sampling method. The research underscores the need for a gender-sensitive approach to addressing challenges faced by women in cattle farming, emphasising the need for policies and community development initiatives that promote gender equity and sustainable farming practices as antecedents to egalitarian farming practices.