"Field testing of an innovative solar powered milk cooling solution for the higher efficiency of the dairy subsector in Tunisia" This work is a summary of the report entitled "Addressing Gender Issues to enhance adoption of the innovative solar powered milk cooling solution for the higher efficiency of the dairy subsector in Tunisia" which explains the impact of a new technology - which is the cold on the farm using solar power - on the relationships between the Household head and his spouse. This Presentation is the result of a year and a half of research done by the socio-economic team of INRA Tunisia (Mr. Mohamed Zied Dhrief, Mrs Oueslti Mariem, Mr. Jebali Oussama)

1. Project : “Field testing of an innovative solar powered
milk cooling solution for the higher efficiency of the
dairy subsector in Tunisia”
Closing workshop
Gender in dairy production and perception
of the milk cooling system

2. The Expected Outputs
Outputs
Gender Indicators:
Developed for the project
that could be used to
track the its performance
on gender issues.
Strategic
Interventions:
Identified &
Recommended for both
Project team and
Stakeholders

3. Methodology
Bibliography (National and international level)
Baseline survey (Gender aspects)
Questionnaire addressed to men, women and youth
(target farmers)
Questionnaire addressed to:
1. Milk collectors
2. Milk collection centres
3. Individual surveys for the targeted farmers

4. Farmers’ Identification

5. Farmers’ Socio-economic Characterisation
Farmer1 Farmer 2 Farmer 3 Farmer 4 Farmer 5 Farmer 6 Farmer 7
Sex Man Man Man Man Man Man Woman
Age (Years) 38 40 40 63 60 47 47
Civil status Married Married Married Married Married Married Widowed
Education level Primary
school
College Primary
school
College Primary
school
College Primary
school
Dairy
production
experience
9 years 10 years 20 years 2 years 20 years 10 years 20 years
Family size 5 6 6 5 7 6 3
Own area (Ha) 1 6 6 7 5 1,5 6
Number of
milking cows
10 8 10 11 12 5 14
Share
Agr+lLiv/ Total
income
90% 80% 100% 50% 60% 40% 100%
Access to credit Yes No No No Yes Yes No

6. Gender Issues

7. Assets' ownership
The field surveys has shown clearly that almost all the
family assets are owned by the men i.e the household
head, and in some cases women and youth could have the
right to own some assets.
The livestock is in reality a common property of the whole
family due to the important interventions of each member
in this activity. The vehicles are considered as the man's
unique property.

8. Assets' ownership
Village Name Men Women Joint
Zitouna (N=32) 75% 13% 12%
Etwila (N=30) 93% 4% 3%
Zefzef (N=29) 93% 7% 0%
Elweara (N=30) 97% 3% 0%
Total (N=121) 89% 7% 4%
Milking cows ownership by gender (%)
80% 85% 90% 95% 100%
Heifers bull and calf (N=113)
Sheep (N=46)
Goats (N=8)
Bee Hives (N=4)
92%
92%
88%
100%
4%
4%
4%
4%
12%
Men Women Joint
Ownership of livestock other than milking cows

9. Analysis of Access to / Control over the productive resources
Briefly about the women's situation
•Lack of access to assets and resources which evolves in a self-
perpetuating cycle
•They are facing hard challenges to make their voices heard, to have
access to credit, knowledge, and eventually to invest in new
technologies
The Gender’s inclusion indicator illustrates that there’s lack of
inclusion in both Zitouna & Hania
There is gender blindness : “If women had the same access to
productive resources as men, they could increase yields on their
farms by 20–30 %. This could raise total agricultural output in
developing countries by 2.5–4 %, which could in turn reduce the
number of hungry people in the world by 12–17 %” (FAO, The state
of food and agriculture, 2010-2011, page 5)

10. Technology and practice review
This tool measures the degree of adoption of a new
technology by a community in a very specific social
context. And since the people in the experiment
happens to be the leaders of this same community
especially in terms of dairy production the results can
be projected onto the entire community.
The following table is a summary of the answers
given by the interviewees

11. Technology and practice review
Men (Household Head) Women (Spouses) Youth (Children)
Description of the
technology
It's a group of solar panels connected
to cooling units that produce ice cubes
to cool the milk during its journey to
the collecting center
it is a fridge that makes
ice cubes to cool the
milk after milking it to
reduce the losses
especially in the
summer season
the idea is to cool the
milk using solar
energy.
Date of its introduction 2016 2016 2016/2017
By whom / what OEP/ICARDA/GIZ... The government Do not know exactly
How was it introduced or
adapted?
Chosen from a group of breeders in
the region who have the best milk
production characteristics
Do not know it just
happened
Do not know
Who made the decision
to adopt the technology
The household head (myself) The household head
(my husband)
The household head
(my father)
Who uses the technology
and who controls its’ use
All family members who knows its
functioning
My husband and I, and
sometimes the children
if they are available
My parents in general.
Who benefits from the
new technology
No clear benefit so far There is no benefit
only hard times every
morning.
Do not know

12. The impact on agricultural
production
No changes since the
experience is conducted
on small level
Milking the cows takes
twice longer than
usual.
Do not know
The impact on intra-household
division of labor
The man has to be
involved in the milking
procedure because of its
delicacy.
The man is back in the
milking activity
Everything mixed up
between the parents;
the available person do
the job
The impact on the livelihoods, food
security and well-being in
the community?
No impact so far No impact No impact
Estimate the number of households
in the community using the
technology
Five persons including me Five persons including
me
Do not know
Discuss why other households in
the community do not use the
technology.
Because they were not
chosen to be part of this
experience
Do not know Do not know
Have any technologies or practices
been introduced but failed
No No No
Technology and practice review

13. Analysis of Access and control of technology
Technology’s introduction was the choice of the male
In 90% of the interviewed cases, there has been a discussion before
the introduction like an informative way to deal with it
All the women had an easy access to the technology, but only 40%
of them were controlling it (in case of widow and in case of male
absence).
=> It was stereotyped that women rarely use machinery due to
“women’s inadequate education, timidity to use machinery and
traditional pattern”.

14. Objective
To identify the level of women’s involvement in decision making
over productive resources
Analysis of Decision making processes in the HH
Women’s level of education under the age of 37
years old (3 interviewed women)
Women’s level of education
above the of the age of 55
years old (1 interviewed
woman)
More involved in decision-making
Women do not have much to say in the financial
decisions, but they do take care of the day-to-
day decisions, their opinions is as a consultative
and advisory.
Not involved in decision-
making
The decision-making about new technologies depend also on
the women profile: Age &Education Level
There’s a Gender’s generation gap

15. Perception of the innovative technology by gender
(score)
0 1 2 3 4 5
Milk is better when it’s cooled
It Increases the milk consumption on-farm
It Increases the processing of milk
Time dedicated to labor reduced
Feeling of stress reduced
Flexibility in organizing their labor time
Milk rejection reduced
Possibilities for multiple uses of this extra cooling space
Improve the relationship with mobile milk collectors
Improve milk quality
Generate more income
Good impact of the innovative technology among your
neighbors
4.8
3.0
3.2
2.0
1.8
2.7
4.3
4.5
3.0
4.7
2.2
3.7
4.8
2.2
3.2
3.0
3.0
4.0
4.5
4.5
2.7
4.0
2.0
3.3
4.4
4
3
3.6
2
2.6
4
4.2
3.2
4.4
3
3.6
Me
Me
Me

16. Analysis of Gender Changing Roles
Objectives
To establish gender
roles in livestock
production particularly
for dairy production and
management
To capture changes in
the gender roles as a
result of the project

17. Analysis of Gender Changing Roles
To highlight the changes within the households
participating in this innovative experience we conducted a
field survey where women, men, and youth were
interviewed separately by a mal and a female enumerators
to minimize any kind of influence between the two sides
especially from men.
The field surveys were made according to the
methodology adopted by:
 "Toolkit for Gender Analysis of Crop and Livestock
Production, Technologies and Service Provision" (Clare
Bishop-Sambrook/Ranjitha Puskur, 2007).
Harvard Analytical Framework (Gender Roles
Framework)

18. Gender division of labor
Men (Household Head) Women (Spouses) Youth (Children)
Before After Before After Before After
Breeding The same as before only women takes
care of it
The same The same
Rearing The same The women are responsible of it as
before
The same
Housing The same This activity is specific to all the
females of the HH
The same
Grazing, tethering The available member is responsible of taking care of this activity, the new technology has no effect on it.
Fodder
production
Women are
responsible
Now the men and
the youth have to
feed the cattle when
the women are busy
milking the cows
Women's
responsibility
Everyone
responsibility
due the extra
time of milking
and preparing
the cans...
Parents
responsibility
If the parents
have some issues
during the
milking process
we have to feed
the cattle.
Fodder
Collection/ buying
fodder
The same, men are responsible of
purchasing the fodder
The same The same
Collecting dung Women's duty The same The same
Watering &
Medication
The same

19. Gender division of labor
Men (Household Head) Women (Spouses) Youth (Children)
Before After Before After Before After
Feeding Only women were responsible of this activity. But now, everyone have to participate to alleviate the burden
on women
Milking Only women were responsible of this activity, but now the household head and his spouse has to cooperate
to complete this task now twice as long as usual before the arrival of the milk collector.
This activity is the most exhausting one, stressful and consumes much more time than usual
Making butter The same A women's activity The same
Slaughtering Men a responsible of slaughtering
any type of animals
The same The same
Storing This activity is done by all the family members, because it is not so frequent.
Day to day
management
Introducing a new technology has
no direct effect on managing the
livestock, because the rush hours
happens to be only the morning.
The same The same
Impact on
production if key
adult in HH ill or
dies
 Wife ill/dies:
 Husband ill/dies:
If anyone of the two active members of the household happens to be unavailable the other one will replace
him.

20. Gender division of labor
Briefly
1. Before the technology : Women were doing almost
everything from housekeeping to livestock production.
Men in the other side are responsible of ensuring off-
farming income, and all necessary outputs for both the
house and the farm.
2. After the technology : Men has become more involved
in the breeding activities due to the nature of the new
technology which demands more knowledge and
physical strength.
Gender’s indicator : Reduce of women’s work
burden which may allow them to participate in other
economic activities available to them

21. Analysis of Gender based constraints
Objective
To identify any existing gender based constraints so that
women, men and youth could not effectively involve in the
project and contribute effectively and share the benefit
About “Access control of technology “:
60% of women were under-esteeming themselves and not have
full confidence about their capacities to handle such new
technology
Work to build new capacities :
Hard skills (technical training about the use,
technology, etc…)
Soft skills (leadership, self-confidence, raise awareness
about their crucial roles in the success of the technology
…etc.)

22. Analysis of Gender based constraints
About budget time of daily women activity:
Women schedule is from “3 / 4 am to 7 /8 pm with a break of 1 or2
hour”
In all the cases women are involved in home-based production
as well as agricultural production
The technology contributes to reduce the stress about the
time’s milking and milk’s quality
It gives women extra time to spend with their children
(helping them in school’s homework, and taking care of
them..etc.)
The more suitable equipments used as new technologies the
less stress they feel.

23. Analysis of Gender based constraints
About the role distribution in HH:
-The gender gap is consistent in all crucial activities: agricultural
input and services, land, livestock, market and marketing
services.
- The women role is invisible and even if she might perform some
agricultural tasks considered as male (case of a widow)
-Men have a financial authority over women , which makes their
mobility limited.
Women’s work is home-based and unrecorded, all of them
are deprived of any social security.

24. Analysis of Gender based opportunities
Social Empowerment:
since women are now enjoying more free time, because of the
increase of male intervention; this will eventually help her to:
Dedicate more time for herself and for her children
 Having more flexibility in managing her schedule
Enjoying some entertainment activities
Economic empowerment:
This form of empowerment will eventually takes place if the farmers
will benefit directly from a quality premium which will generate
more income for the HH.
Women will have the right to control this benefits if only they can get
rid of the social chains that hinders them.

25. Gender relations between producers and
collectors
Milk collectors:
-All the milk collectors are men with an average of 35 years old , 50%
of them are younger than 30 years old.
Indicators :
•Creation of job opportunity for jobless youth
•Change in number and composition of collectors

26. Gender relations between producers and
collectors
Relationship between women and collectors:
Women in this case doesn’t face any problem to deal as a producer
with the collectors not because she is empowered or the absence of
norms and traditions but because there is a family relationship
between them.
This may reveal the incapacity of women to deal with other
collector not belonging to the family
 Weakness and absence of self-confidence
In the major cases, milk collectors prefers to deal with women rather
than men, the main reason are:
-Accurate Delivery time (83.3%)
- Hygiene (70%)
- A better milk handling (69.9%)
Indicator : changes in composition of milk
suppliers

27. Gender indicators at the collecting centers
level
Staff structure of 14 collection centres
Men
Number %
Engineers 3 4%
Technicians 12 17%
Master
degrees 11 15%
Worker 21 30%
Driver 24 34%
Total 71 100%
Women
Number %
engineers 2 3%
Technicians 3 4%
Master
degrees 7 10%
Worker 54 81%
Driver 1 1%
Total 67 100%
Indicator : Change in staff composition and
number

28. Strategic action plan
To ensure women farmers and their needs are integrated into extension
and knowledge transfer it is recommended to:
- Develop a knowledge transfer strategy that includes all stakeholders
and partners in the sector and clarifies their role. This includes the
governmental extension services in the Ministries of Agriculture, the
private sector, the Agricultural Unions, Associations and Cooperatives as
well as Civil Society Organizations.
- Design extension programs based on the needs of the different
categories of female and male farmers (not only male head of
households) and involve local independent female farmers, into the
design of extension messages and approaches.

29. Strategic action plan
-With the needs of female farmers identified, appropriate extension
messages for women farmers can be developed that include technical
input and information, training on agricultural machinery, and
especially access to labour-saving devices.
- Independent female famers can serve as role models for rural
women. Extension services should establish strategic partnerships
with these farmers to reach out to female famers in their community
and beyond. Extension services could broaden their scope and
provide extra support to women farmers in their role as knowledge
transfer agents. Support could include assistance to attend
conferences and field demonstrations, provision of up-to-date
research know-how, market linkages and participation in strategic
planning meetings and policy formulation in the agricultural sector.

30. Strategic action plan
-Development initiatives should combine increase in agriculture
productivity band an income diversification for small farmers and
rural women. This implies technical support through extension,
linkage to micro-credit providers, capacity building in
entrepreneurship skills, processing, marketing and access to non-
agricultural sources of income.
- Movement beyond gender stereotypes of women farmers as
helpers and housekeepers and identify women farmer’s needs. All
three categories of women farmers have clear needs for agricultural
input, machinery and know-how that go well beyond food
processing and home production. For this paradigm shift to happen,
the needs of women farmers must be identified and made visible.
This can happen in agricultural research and in the planning phase
of annual extension plans.