A Path to Prosperity New Directions for African Livestock

There was mixed opinion on whether small scale
producers feed a balanced ration to their ruminant
livestock. It was generally felt there was room from
improvement. Examples of the positive impact of
micro nutrient, vitamin and mineral supplements
were given.
One correspondent from FAO advocated greater use
of annual assessments of available feed resources
in SSA. Such assessments generate information on
what, how much and when different feed resources
are available. This allows policy and management
decisions to be taken regarding the use of these
resources. In addition, such information could
enhance efficiency and profitability of animal feed
industry and assist researchers to formulate
sustainable feeding strategies. Spatial and temporal
assessments of current and forecasted feed
resources could significantly assist disaster
preparedness and response, as feed could, where
practicable, quickly be moved into areas affected by
emergencies such as droughts and floods. FAO
has developed guidelines and a manual for the
assessment of feed resources at national and
regional levels and can assist countries in generating
national feed inventories.
The ISP had advocated development of dictionaries
of the nutritive value of available feed resources in
different parts of Africa. Feed dictionaries form the
basis for livestock ration formulation and can be a
means of minimizing feed costs. However it was
noted that animal feed analysis laboratories in SSA
rarely have quality control systems in place.
4 Small livestock farmers increasing
their income – trade and market
access
The e-discussion initially focused on market access
for small scale producers or smallholders. It was
pointed out that access primarily depends on the
market being targeted, the product being traded and
the direction in which government policies move.
It was noted that African cities with growing
populations and growing incomes may provide an
accessible market for smallholders for some time
to come. The example of Nairobi was provided. Most
livestock products sold in Nairobi have either walked
or been carried across national borders through
semi-regulated market chains with no formal quality
demands. It is the formal marketing chains, like
those into supermarkets or for large-scale export,
that start to introduce higher quality demands.
“Here the effect may be to push out the smaller
producer through more costly requirements
for production and certification, or simply to make
the market more unpredictable and less attractive to
smallholders who cannot bear the risk”.
It was noted that small scale producers, as well as
small scale traders and retailers, seem to survive
longest in dairy market chains. Though there are
exceptions to the rule. Smallholders and traditional
production have been remarkably persistent in parts
of Southeast Asia. In Brazil, there has been very little
policy support to small scale dairy production and
dairying has scaled-up and concentrated in the
hands of large producers. However in India and East
Africa, policy has largely favoured small holder dairy
production, which now predominates. Poultry meat
and egg production are very much associated with
large-scale operations and big business. Backyard
poultry remains a good livelihoods prop when reared
on a very small scale for informal markets. In the
middle ground, however, small scale commercial
operations start up and close down very fast –
they seem to be an important part of transition
in the poultry sector but not a sustainable long
term prospect. It was noted that ruminant meat
production could go either way and policy
development will be key to pushing production to or
from small holders in Sub Saharan Africa. “Policies
that support market infrastructure and training that
small scale producers can access, fair contracts,
quality regulation of services that small scale
producers need, small retail businesses in peri-urban
and urban areas, all make it possible for small scale
producers to stay in business for longer”.
Correspondents agreed that harmonisation of intra
and inter regional livestock trade policies in Africa
should encourage better structured and regulated
markets and this could be very beneficial for small
scale producers. It was advocated that intra
regional trade initiatives need to provide better
information, support to producer groups and
infrastructure development to enhance trade.
The Impetus Strategy Paper I Page 81