Issues and implications for livestock development policies in eastern and southern Africa

Stroebel, A., Swanepoel, F.J.C., Pell, A.N. and Groenewald, I.B. 2006. Issues and implications for livestock development policies in eastern and southern Africa. In: Rege, J.E.O.; Nyamu, A.M.; Sendalo, D. (eds.). 2006. The role of biotechnology in animal agriculture to address poverty in Africa: Opportunities and challenges. Proceedings of the 4th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture and the 31st annual meeting of Tanzania Society for Animal Production, Arusha, Tanzania, 20–24 September 2005. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: TSAP and Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

Empirical studies and reviews from eastern (Kenya) and southern (South Africa) Africa have been used to construct a policy framework to guide livestock development in these two regions. Five overarching, integrated elements have been identified. These include food production and security, capacity strengthening for livestock research, livestock and the environment, health and genetics and marketing of livestock and livestock products. The framework that emerges is complex due to the dramatically increasing demand for livestock products and, as a result, the far-reaching changes in the structure of smallholder livestock production. This framework emphasises that many of the policy challenges remain pertinent and important. Significant progress has been made to address some of these challenges, but the fact remains that these macro-policy concerns need to be addressed. This translates into complex, multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral policy implications for governments, and increasingly, for the private sector.