Abstract
The potentials of livestock in the sustenance of the economy of rural women of Ekiti State, Nigeria was examined in this study. Semi structured questionnaire guides were used to interview 240 selected rural women from the three zones of the state. The interviews were focus, conversational and two-way in communication. The demography and values of livestock reared, diseases experienced by the livestock as well as the flora species used in the management of the diseases were identified. Similarly parts of the plants used including the methods of preparation of the flora-derived medicine were also identified. The perceptions of the women on the use of flora species were documented. The results obtained identified seven different livestock reared by the women respondents. These animals were observed to have culinary, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual values in the lives of the rural dwellers. Also while incentives to enhance their productions abound in the state, pests and diseases tend to affect their productivity. Veterinary services were poor in the state, however the women have considerable ethno-veterinary knowledge of flora species that they use to maintain the health of the animals. A total of 42 flora species belonging to 28 families were reportedly being utilised for health maintenance of the livestock. These flora-derived medicines were found to be safe for the livestock, effective, affordable and readily available. Strategies that would enhance sustainable contributions of livestock to the economy of the rural women were suggested.

Keywords
Ethno-veterinary, medicinal, culinary, cultural, spiritual

Cite this paper
Gladys Modupe Kayode, Racheal Omowunmi Ajayi, Oyin Oluwasesan Oladele, The Sustenance of Ekiti Rural Women’s Economy: Identifying the flora species in livestock healthcare system , SCIREA Journal of Education. Volume 3, Issue 2, April 2018 | PP. 29-53.

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