Improved integration of small ruminants with a view to economical and ecologically sustainable production in smallholder crop/livestock systems in Southern Africa

Objective

The production patterns of small ruminants should contribute to the economical and environmental sustainability of the crop/livestock systems. To do so, it is necessary to promote the economic productivity and the level of integration by means of an integrated resource management system. Small ruminant production in this context refers to smallholder production systems located in the semi-humid regions of Southern Africa.
There is limited data on the integration of small-ruminant production in the cop-livestock farming systems.
This applies particularly in relation to socio-economic factors such as labour supply and productivity, resource allocation, economic productivity, institutions and services and the contribution of small ruminants to household incomes and food security (REAPER, 1992)

The proposal aims to study small ruminant production in Southern Africa by adopting a holistic systems approach; based on the realisation that small ruminants are a component of a farming system.
By considering the impact of factors internal and external to the production system, the proposal with help achieve a sustainable and environmentally sound system, with tangible benefits for the rural farming communities.
Through an integrated resources management approach, the project focuses on environmental protection and reduced degradation of community resources. Thanks Nutrient recycling, livestock with enhance soil fertility around the homesteads and will thus contibute to environmental conservation.
Specific objectives of the proposal

1. identify, quantify and evaluate the role of socio-economic factors, institutional constraints, technologies and market forces of small ruminant (SR) production in crop/livestock (C/L) systems .
2. assess the potential competitiveness of SR production with regards to production resources in C/L systems within the rural economic context will assess their contribution to household income, food security and labour use.
3. optimise the use of crop residues by goats/sheep and the use of manure for nutrient recycling in crop/small ruminant (C/SR) systems and will test their economic and ecological interactions and acceptance at farm/village level.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › waste management › waste treatment processes › recycling
• social sciences › economics and business › economics › production economics › productivity
• medical and health sciences › health sciences › nutrition
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture
• agricultural sciences › animal and dairy science › domestic animals › animal husbandry

Programme(s)

• FP3-STD 3 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the life sciences and technologies for developing countries, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Address

Invalidenstraße 42
10115 Berlin
Germany

Participants (9)

Den Kongelige Veterinær- og Landbohøjskole

Denmark

Address

13,bülowsvej
1870 Frederiksberg C

Istituto Sperimentale Italiano Lazzaro Spallanzani

Italy

Address

Via Disciplini 18
20123 Milano

National University of Lesotho

Lesotho

Address

Roma

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa

Portugal

Address

Rua Gomes Freire
1199 Lisboa

University of Malawi

Malawi

Address

Lilongwe

University of Swaziland

Eswatini

Address

Manzini

University of Zambia

Zambia

Address

Great East Road Campus
50110 Lusaka

University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Address

Harare

Vakakis International S.A.

Greece

Address

9-11,loradikias Str.
11528 Athens