Transcript
Page 1: Competitive smallholder livestock in Botswana

Unlocking livestock development potential through science, influence and capacity development ILRI APM, Addis Ababa, 15-17 May 2013

Developing capacity Influencing decisions

 Compe''ve  smallholder  Livestock  in  Botswana    

This  document  is  licensed  for  use  under  a  Crea3ve  Commons  A6ribu3on-­‐Noncommercial-­‐Share  Alike  3.0  Unported  License                May  2013    

3 strategic lessons on:  

1.  There  is  high  demand  for  training  of  agricultural  extension  workers,  par'cularly  for  commercial  applica'on  of  scien'fic  knowledge.  

2.  Suppor'ng  a  local  partner  for  in-­‐service  and  con'nuing  educa'on  will  be  cost  effec've  and  boost  capacity.  

 

1.  An  en're  case  for  small  stock  must  be  made,  as  their  contribu'on  to  livelihoods  is  not  recognized.  

2.  Policy  advocacy  has  been  shared  with  a  local  ins'tute  with  a  string  track  record  across  many  economic  sectors.  

Sirak  Bahta,    Interna'onal  Livestock  Research  Ins'tute  (ILRI),  Gaborone,  Botswana  [email protected]  

Delivering science

Background  Botswana  is  characterized  as  semi-­‐arid,  with  erra'c  rainfall.  Most  of  its  581,730  sq.  km  surface  area  is  natural  rangeland  suitable  for  extensive  livestock  grazing.    Beef  exports  to  the  EU  provide  the  basis  for  the  rural  economy.  The  smallholder  farming  system  primarily  uses  communal  grazing  systems    with  a  combina'on  of  caXle  and  small  stock  (sheep  and  goats).      However,  smallholder  livestock  produc'vity  and  offtake  are  very   low   and   the   sector   is   challenged   by   high  mortality   rate.   Supply   of   quality   beef   animals   to   the   parastatal     exporter   (Botswana  Meat  Commission,  BMC)   is   limited  and  the   local  markets   for  beef  and  other  ruminant  meats  feature  high  prices  due  to   limited  supply.   In  general,  incen'ves  for  value  addi'on  in  pursuit  of  these  markets  are  limited  and    there  is  liXle  innova'on  in  the  value  chain,  par'cularly  for  small  stock.    Although  past  policy  and  research  have  focused  on  the  beef  export  sector,  rather  liXle  informa'on  has  been  generated  on  the  circumstances  and   poten'al   of   smallholder   caXle   owners   and   the   households   that   earn   livelihoods   from   sheep   and   goats.     This   leaves   strategies   and  investments  for  rural  development  and  livelihood  genera'on  without  a  basis  in  data  and  analysis.                        Iden'fica'on   of   interven'ons   to   improve   the   compe''veness   of   the   smallholder   sector   requires   study   of   the   value   chain.   This   entails   a  thorough   explora'on   of   the   country’s   markets   and   market   actors,   the   role   of   key   players,   and   the   cri'cal   constraints   that   limit   livestock  produc'vity.    Although  Botswana’s  caXle  trade  situa'on  is  much  analysed,  its  produc'on  and  marke'ng  base  has  received  liXle  aXen'on,  and  the  local  market  has  not  been  studied  at  all.              Goals      Project  goals  Ø  To  beXer  define  smallholder  livestock  produc'on  systems  and  to  iden'fy  the  factors  affec'ng  the  produc'vity  of  smallholder  livestock  

producers  and  assess  their  compe''veness      Ø  To  understand  and  improve  condi'ons  for  market  par'cipa'on  and  value  addi'on  in  markets  for  livestock,  livestock  products  and  inputs  Ø  To  strengthen  the  capacity  of  agricultural  educa'on  and  extension    Focus  The  project  will  explore  the  exis'ng  value  chains  and  their  compe''veness,  and  their  capacity  to  benefit  smallholders.    Partners  Botswana  Ministry  of  Agriculture  (MoA)  Botswana  Ins'tute  for  Development  Policy  Analysis  (BIDPA)  Botswana  College  of  Agriculture  (BCA)  

1.  Government  agencies  focus  only  on  export  value  chains,  and  have  liXle  informa'on  on  small  stock  and  local  markets.  

2.  Innova'on  in  small  stock  demands  new  informa'on  in  understandable  format.  

3.  Exis'ng  scien'fic  research  is  liXle-­‐informed  by  economics.  

Prices  in  different  channels  

Consumers’  stated  preferences   Producers’  percep6ons  of  consumers’  preferences  

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