Livestock Services and the Poor: A global initiative - IFAD

Figure 1.4: Main livestock problems
% Response
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Low Prices for Offtake
Livestock Disease
Access to Fodder/Water
Lack of Labour
Lack of Medicine/
Healthcare Provider
Low Productivity
Lack of Space/Shelter
CHAPTER 1: POOR LIVESTOCK KEEPERS
India (n=1024)
Bolivia (n=514)
Kenya (n=247)
Two points are illustrated by this discussion of the problems in
the maintenance of livestock:
The problems faced by the poor with their livestock were
surprisingly consistent despite the overall regional and
country variations. Across the three countries, the lack of
fodder and water and poor animal health were considered
the primary constraints on livestock-based livelihoods.
In contrast to the LID (1999) study, problems with livestock
acquisition were not prominent. Likewise, the lack of markets
for off-take was not considered an insurmountable problem.
Poor livestock keepers in urban areas experience problems in
obtaining access to fodder and especially water, just as the animal
health situation is particularly bad because the poor urban
livestock keepers often have limited knowledge of proper
husbandry practices and do not possess sufficient space for the
animals.
Accidents
Drought
Theft
Heffernan et al. (2002).
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