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
