Title: Complexities of Smallholder Livestock Production Systems in SubSaharan Africa: Science and Sustainab
1Complexities of Smallholder Livestock Production
Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa Science and
Sustainable DevelopmentCIIFAD10 October
2007Dr Aldo StroebelUniversity of the Free
State
2Outline
- Science and the importance of agricultural
research in sustainable development - Case study
- Issues of addressing the socio-economic
complexities of smallholder livestock production
in SSA - Similarities and differences wrt livestock
policies in Southern and Eastern Africa
3Africa would not be able to produce a surplus
above current consumption levels, nor would it
lay the foundation for sustainable development,
if African farmers are not sufficiently empowered
to use productivity techniques of their choice in
producing what they think is profitable (Deng
et al., 1995)
4Context (1)
- Challenge to overcome hunger
- Africa
- 30 of the population, mainly women and children,
suffer from malnutrition - 50 of the African population live below the
poverty line of US1 per day - Sub-Saharan Africa 30 of people live in
absolute poverty - Prospects for improvement challenging
- 85 of countries falling far behind in achieving
the MDG for nutrition
5Context (2)
- New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD)
- Priority to agricultural development
- Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP) - Agricultural research, technology dissemination
and adoption - Requirements
- enhanced rates of adoption efficient linkages
(research, extension systems, producers) - technology delivery systems innovations to
farmers and agribusinesses - agricultural research systems generate and adapt
new knowledge and technologies - reduce costs and risks adopt new technologies
6The extent to which agricultural research has
reduced poverty has become an increasing concern
of policymakers, donors, and researchers. Until
recently, poverty reduction was a secondary goal
of agricultural research. The primary focus was
on increasing food production and reducing food
prices, a strategy that was successful in
increasing the yields of important food staples.
When increased productivity is combined with
increased agricultural employment, lower food
prices, and increased off-farm employment,
agricultural research can be credited with
significant reductions in rural poverty.
7Towards an African Green Revolution
- Kofi Annans challenge to scientists, academics
and the donor community (2005) - Let us create a uniquely African Green
Revolution - Subsequently two African Green Revolution
Conferences were held in Oslo - Catalyst for Action (2006)
- Public-private partnerships in working towards an
African Green Revoltion to increase agricultural
productivity, reduce hunger and to protect the
environment (2007)
8Africa 2008
- Major issues
- Apply the core business competencies to reduce
hunger, thereby addressing MDG 1
9(No Transcript)
10Major reviews of the literature conclude that
whether technology benefits poor people depends
not on the characteristics of technology per se,
but more so on underlying socio-economic
conditions. (Kerr and Kolavalli, 1999 Hazell
and Haddad, 2001)
11Case Study
- Socio complexities of smallholder, resource-poor
ruminant livestock production systems in SSA
12Introduction to the Study
In South Africa, livestock production is a major
component of rural agriculture. Livestock and its
products (meat and milk) provide food for home
consumption, are sources for
income, represent a form of capital that is
easily converted into cash and provide draft
power and manure. However, in general, the
productivity of these systems is relatively low.
13A summary of benefits and products derived from
animals
14South Africa study area
15Kenya study area
16Herd dynamics and productivity measures (1)
17Herd dynamics and productivity measures (2)
18DiscussionHerd size and composition
- The number of cattle owned varied from one to 67,
with an average of ten (10.3) head of cattle per
household, of which 68.6 own ten or less head of
cattle. Cows form the largest part of the herd
(45.6). - These findings suggest that male animals (bulls
and steers) are either sold for cash income, or
slaughtered for home consumption. According to
the herd composition, animal traction is not
regarded as very important. The bull to cow ratio
is 12.98.
19Herd dynamics and productivity measures (3)
20DiscussionHerd mortality and offtake
- Herd mortality in this study is 15.6. Such a
high mortality obviously represents a
considerable loss to farmers constituting twice
the offtake percentage of 7.8. - However, it should be remembered that in most
cases of cattle deaths, part of, or the entire
carcass is consumed by the household. This high
mortality rate could have been aggravated by the
severe drought experienced during the year of the
study in this area.
21DiscussionHerd mortality and offtake (cont.)
- The low offtake figure of the present study
(7.8), emphasises the fact that there is a need
to encourage the communal farmer to increase
offtake from their herd and to establish an
appreciation of improved productivity and
quality, instead of animal numbers only.
22DiscussionReproduction
- The average age at first calving is 34.3 months,
followed by a calving interval of 24 months, with
a calving percentage of 49.4 as a result. There
is no distinct calving and breeding season, which
is evident from calves being born throughout the
year with the peak being during the summer
months, associated with the uni-modal rains
(December February) in this area. - Consequently, two-thirds of cows calve during
this period. Extended drought periods are common
to this area and therefore also contribute
towards the lower reproduction rates. Another
reason for the longer intercalving period could
be the fact that only a very small number of
farmers (2) wean calves.
23DiscussionReproduction (cont.)
- Despite the fact that a large number of farmers
milk their cows for home consumption, none of
them indicated that this was the main reason for
farming with cattle. Herd management,
particularly milking strategies, may play a role
in contributing towards the low reproduction
rate, especially the longer calving interval. - Milking strategies of herd owners are guided by a
complex set of factors such as herd size, family
subsistence needs and whether there is a market
for milk. Within the herd, the yield potential of
cows and the condition of the calves influences
milking frequency and dairy milk production.
24DiscussionReproduction (cont.)
- Within this study, herd size and cattle wealth
(number of cattle per person) influences milk
offtake, since milking is primarily focused on
household food needs. Thus, the number of cows in
milk is negatively correlated with milk offtake
yield.
25Reasons for keeping livestock
-
- Some of the respondents provided more than
one motivation, therefore percentages - add up to more than 100
26DiscussionMain reasons for farming with cattle
- Despite the fact that a large number of farmers
milk their cows for home consumption, none of
them indicated that this was the main reason for
farming with cattle. Cash-related reasons
(commercial purposes and school and hospital
fees) were cited by 68.1 of the farmers as the
main motivation for farming with cattle, while
22.7 kept cattle for social prestige. - These results indicate that smallholder farmers
in this region are more commercially-orientated
than others in South Africa, where capital
wealth, social prestige, lobola and consumption
are given as more important reasons for farming
than cash-related reasons.
27DiscussionMain reasons for farming with cattle
(cont.)
- Although social prestige and capital wealth was
only cited as the third-most important reason for
keeping cattle, it confirms that there is a
social-economic status related to the ownership
of cattle. - This is commonly referred to as the cattle
complex, where cattle are kept for prestige and
status and not for production.
28DiscussionMain reasons for farming with cattle
(cont.)
- The fact that socio-economic status can be
regarded as being a very useful predictor of
successful and progressive cattle farming, is
important in this analysis. - This conclusion and the fact that cattle farmers
had a high socio-economic status in their
communities, emphasises the relationship of rural
livestock production to his/her social
development.
29Conclusion
30Identifying Policy Elements (1)
- Differences between South Africa and Kenya
- Incidence and levels of poverty (percentage of
the population living below US 1 per day) are
much greater in Kenya than in South Africa (50
and 24 respectively), which makes the challenge
of poverty alleviation and food security more
critical in Kenya - The main agro-ecological zones in South Africa
vary between arid and sub-humid, with the
predominant area being sub-humid, while those in
Kenya are predominantly arid with semi-arid and
sub-humid areas. In both cases, the majority of
the population live in sub-humid areas - A larger area in South Africa (85) is mainly
suited for livestock production than in Kenya
(25) - Smallholder intensive dairy production is more
advanced in Kenya - Landless urban and peri-urban production is more
advanced in Kenya than in South Africa, largely
because there are more non-agricultural
employment opportunities in South Africa - Systems integrating tree crops and ruminants are
much more common in Kenya than in South Africa - The size and diversity of animal populations are
much greater in Kenya. Furthermore, the number of
indigenous breeds within species is larger in
Kenya than in South Africa
31Identifying Policy Elements (2)
-
- Similarities between South Africa
and Kenya
Both Kenya and South Africa are regarded as
leaders in their respective sub-
regions in terms of livestock production,
smallholder development and regional
agricultural research capacityThe lack of
integration of farming system approaches and
technology development and transfer in
research is common to the two regionsDespite the
interest in urban and peri-urban agriculture,
this sector of the livestock
industries, except for poultry, is relatively
undeveloped in both countriesThe
integration of animals with annual cropping
systems is common in both
countriesLimited use of improved
foragesInadequate socio-economic and policy
research and training focusing on
livestockThe need to strengthen research
capacity in the National Agricultural
Research System (NARS)
32Spatial integration of the main policy issues
affecting livestock production in Sub-Saharan
Africa
Livestock development policy process of South
Africa
33Final Remarks
34Critical Success Factors for Universities
- Constructive contribution to sustainable
development -
- Funding - Strategic alliances and partnerships
- Intellectual capacity- Research
infrastructure- Leadership- Ownership and
dedication - Effective monitoring systems
- Moving beyond the Ivory Tower
- Engaged Universities
- CIIFAD
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