Livestock and rangeland development

Learning note

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This Note relates to KSF3: Alignment of design features with IFAD Strategic Objectives and lessons learnt; analysis and results framework
Version: January 2008

Core issues

Settings and target groups for livestock and rangeland projects are particularly diverse. The range of issues that needs to be taken into account in planning investments reflects this diversity.

  •  Livestock and rangeland development strategies. As livestock is the major user of primary production in arid and semi-arid regions, degradation has always been attributed to this sector. However, degradation of land and vegetative cover resulting from unsustainable grazing pressure is often a consequence of complex interactions between climate change, inappropriate resource management practices, policies and regulations, lack of enforcement and political dominance of groups or individuals. A change to sustainable alternatives may ideally involve giving more control to local people or to those with traditional rights.
  • The role of livestock in livelihood strategies. The rural poor may rely on livestock to improve diets and food security, earn cash for basic requirements or investments, or accumulate animals as savings for emergencies or as a symbol of wealth. Livestock rearing may be a sole activity or part of a diversified farming system. Complex regimes may govern caring for livestock and sharing of outputs. Different stock or livestock products may be the responsibility of different family members. Investment support needs to be formulated to respond to the particular strategy of the target group and matched both to the prevailing agro-ecological potential and local custom.
  • Technical strategies for livestock development. Depending on the type of livestock and production system, technical approaches to livestock development vary greatly. Different priorities (e.g.: upgrading feed supply, improving genetic quality, tackling diseases and parasites) may raise difficult choices. As well as technical potentials, decisions will be influenced by whether supplies of medicines, feeds or other inputs and improved breeding stock can be assured, and whether producers would have access to markets for expanded output.
  • Cross-cutting livestock and rangeland related issues:
    • 4.1 Livestock and gender: small livestock such as poultry or rabbits and household dairy products are usually managed by women and thus they can provide a potential entry point for pro-poor women’s development or opportunities for youth especially in many rural or peri-urban settings.
    • 4.2 Livestock and value chain: value chain analysis is fundamental to understand local market dynamics, internal relationships and main factors hampering/promoting livestock production.
    • 4.3 Livestock and land tenure: security investments in livestock infrastructures/assets can be encouraged by ensuring land tenure.
    • 4.5 Livestock and Pastoralism: main users of range resources are pure pastoralists (nomads), semi-nomadic pastoralists and semi-sedentary pastoralists or agro-pastoralists. Participatory development approaches involving all users have relevant effects on the reduction of conflicts among pastoralists and sedentary communities as well as on land improvement activities (investments in livestock and water infrastructures).   
    • 4.6 Livestock and water: access to reliable sources of water is a key-factor for livestock development as long journey to the water points can be shortened and overgrazing and soil erosion animals around the limited water points can be reduced.
    • 4.7 Livestock in post-crisis situations: vulnerability of livestock owners to emergency situations varies depending on whether their lifestyle is pastoral or if it incorporates crop production into a mixed-farming system. These activities include: (i) Destocking initiatives providing for the intentional removal of animals from a region before they die and (ii) Restocking initiatives necessary to supply livestock owners with breeding animals in order to increase herd size over time (lost or decimated).

Key tasks for design and review

  • In generating proposals for expanded livestock production, planners should pay close attention to selecting plausible technical parameters and making realistic implementation assumptions. Social issues and family labour constraints that will influence adoption and adaptation should be also taken into account.
  • Targeting mechanisms to reach the more disadvantaged – especially women and youth – should be explored and developed to the extent possible in discussion with communities and the target group.
  • Interactions over use of resources between crop and livestock producers should be identified analysed and possible solutions explored. Where feasible stakeholders or their representatives and local political authorities should be involved in seeking resolution.
  • Access to Veterinary Services should be fostered as in many developing countries small-scale livestock producers have minimal access to animal health services. Training in animal health and establishment of veterinary clinics should be designed in order to improve livestock productivity.
  • Access to Financial Services should be enhanced in order to enable community organizations and individuals to purchase farm machinery, food processing equipment and livestock and also to invest in livestock related infrastructures.
  • Access to Market Services for livestock and livestock products will often need to be assessed, as will also supply chains for livestock feed and inputs, germplasm upgrading (including artificial insemination) and veterinary medicines.
  • Access to Training Services and training activities can be developed through Farmers Livestock Field Schools (FLFSs) including aspects of animal protection (vaccination), animal breeding, animal husbandry, first-aid skills, veterinary regulations and communicable diseases, meat inspection and livestock marketing systems

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