Let's give smallholder livestock farmers of the developing world a chance

In developed countries, many people are cutting their meat consumption driven by health or animal welfare concerns or a wish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But elsewhere in the world, it is a different story. A combination of population growth, urbanization, and rising incomes are driving up demand for meat, dairy products, and eggs. An emerging middle class in developing countries can now afford to consume livestock products on a regular basis for the first time.

There’s a legitimate debate to be had – based on evidence – about the environmental cost of livestock in parts of the world. But we should not lose sight of the basic needs of others with whom we share the planet and that smallholder production can be sustainable.

In the developing world, many children, women and men don’t consume enough protein. Many more depend upon livestock for their livelihoods, such as many pastoral people and communities. And for them raising and tending animals, and processing or selling dairy products can be a route out of hunger and poverty.

Today, 155 million children suffer from chronic malnutrition and 52 million from acute malnutrition. Millions of children and women in developing countries need to eat more animal proteins, especially young children whose cognitive and physical development requires crucial micronutrients such as zinc and iron.

The economics are also compelling. An estimated one billion smallholder farmers in developing countries depend on livestock for food and income. Their production frequently generates up to 40 percent of agricultural GDP. Livestock provide food for families, generate an additional income and act as a buffer where a crisis arises. Livestock also supply manure for crops, and draught power for tilling, and transport for products and families.

Demand for livestock products is expected to more than double during the next 20 years. This offers an immense opportunity for a profitable and sustainable increase in livestock production – in particular in Africa – by smallholders who already produce the lion’s share of the continent’s milk, meat and eggs. Further development of the livestock sector could spur employment and economic growth in rural areas where millions of young people are currently unemployed.

Today, large-scale commercial farming only produces a minor share of the food consumed in most African towns and cities. But this is changing fast. We need to make sure that the concentration of livestock production in large-scale units does not displace most smallholders, as happened in industrial countries over the past 50 years.

To meet surging market demand while protecting the environment, smallholders’ production will need to become more productive, efficient and sustainable. They will also need to meet quality, safety and supply reliability requirements.

Besides helping livestock farmers achieve higher productivity and more sustainable practices, we also need to help smallholders develop and access more modern value chains and markets. This requires better transport, a flow of market information, reliable power supplies and advisory services to educate farmers.

Original source: IFAD
Published on 17 October 2018