Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Women's roles in small ruminant production systems and pestes des petits ruminants' status in Indonesia

¹University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Animal Science, Germany
²Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
³Massey University, School of Veterinary Sciences, New Zealand
⁴IPB University, School of Business, Indonesia
⁵University of Insan Cendekia Mandiri, Fac. of Agriculture, Indonesia
⁶Universitas Gadjah Mada, Fac. of Biology, Indonesia
⁷Universityof Padjadjaran, Fac. of Animal Husbandry, Indonesia
⁸University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Agric. Sci. in the Tropics (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute), Germany

Abstract

This study focused on women's roles in small ruminant production systems and evaluated the current status of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in Bandung, Garut, and Indramayu, Indonesia. Those regions were chosen for their active small ruminant farming and previous serological evidence for PPR. The study conducted a mixed-method approach. The focus group discussions were conducted with 72 selected farmers to explore women's roles, meanwhile blood and nasal swab samples were collected from up to 151 sheep and goats to assess PPR presence using competitive ELISA and RT-PCR techniques. Roles of women varied across regions which are shaped by local cultural beliefs and household gender dynamics. While women’s primary responsibility is traditionally household care, many households share farm-related tasks, including feeding animals, cutting grass, and managing livestock, with women also participating in decision-making. Balanced arrangements are common in Bandung, where women are often more directly involved in feeding and taking care of sick animals, while men manage other aspects on the farm. In Garut, although women are not directly involved in daily farm work, they also make decisions e.g., selling animals and sometimes take care of sick animals. Overall PPR seroprevalence was 0.66% (1/151) across all regions. Only one sample was seropositive from a sheep aged 6-12 months in Garut. Fifteen samples from Garut were analysed by qRT-PCR to detect PPR antigen presence. The qRT-PCR showed negative results which concluded that there were no PPR antigen detected in any of the samples in this study. The PPR antibodies was detected, even at low level, indicates that previous exposure of the virus which highlights a potential vulnerability to PPR outbreaks within the smallholder farming system. The current finding shows the importance of preparedness through robust veterinary surveillance.

Keywords: Animal disease, goat, Indonesia, sheep, smallholder farmers

Contact Address: Risma Rizkia Nurdianti, University of Hohenheim, Inst. of Animal Science, Schloß Hohenheim 1, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany, e-mail: risma_rizkia.nurdiantiuni-hohenheim.de