Use of Small Ruminants for Income and Nutrition Among Smallholder farmers-Heifer’s Experience

1. Use of Small Ruminants for Income and Nutrition Among Smallholder farmers-Heifer’s Experience By Leonard Maposa Heifer International Zimbabwe

2. About Heifer International • International NGO-Founded by Dan West following his relief duties during the Spanish civil war (1937). • First heifers sent to Puerto Rico in 1944 (Hope, Faith & Charity) • Mission is to work in partnership with communities to alleviate hunger and poverty and care for the earth. • Use of livestock as a tool for improving livelihoods–originally heifers but now all forms of livestock. • Passing on the gift is the key cornerstone. • First project in Zimbabwe- Chikore Mission 1984

3. Role of small ruminants in society • First animals to be domesticated (Middle East, 9000 BC) • Ready sources of food and cash for women and disadvantaged households • Meat, milk, manure and skins • Socio-cultural role;- lobola, ancestral appeasement etc • Economic reserve • Important means of rebuilding herds after environmental and political shocks

4. Why the focus on small ruminants • Hardy and adapt to wide range of environmental conditions . • High productivity rate • Low initial, replacement and maintenance costs • Easily cared for, allow participation of women, children and the elderly • Wide religious and cultural acceptance • Can easily be liquidated

5. Small ruminant projects by Heifer Int. • 5 small ruminant projects implemented in the last 6 years (960 sheep & 4240 goats distributed to 1040 families) • A further 1134 families have benefited from passing on the gift • Trainings preceded livestock placements • Objectives of the projects were to • To increase income and improve nutrition among target families • To increase production of genetically and environmental adapted breeds • To improve resilience among HIV & AIDS affected and infected, and other vulnerable HHs

6. Impact of the projects • HH Incomes raised by 60-150% (purchase of assets) • 75% reduction in school drop outs among orphans • Protein source for people living with HIV&AIDS • Reduction in malnutrition among supported orphans (100% in Lower Gweru)

7. Impact continues • Improved ownership of livestock among women & vulnerable children • Improved animal husbandry practices • Strengthening of social networks

8. Lessons learnt • High potential in addressing problems of nutrition and income • Renewed interest in the role of small ruminants in rural development in Zimbabwe • There is a large marketing opportunity for small ruminants and products • Can play an important role in mitigating the effects of HIV & AIDS • Empowers women and children • Lessens the impact of shock among vulnerable hoseholds

9. Negative emerging issues • Small ruminants especially goat still being regarded as “poor man’s cow” • Regarded as a threat to the environment • Very little research compared to other farm animals- commercial scale bias • Importance of small ruminants still understated • Apparent resistance to sheep/goats’ milk consumption

10. Future priorities • More information needed on the production and productivity constraints • More research on the beneficiary effects of small ruminants on the environment. • Promotion of indigenous breeds and indigenous knowledge • Development of appropriate small scale research based extension messages • Formation of a national collaborative network on research and development.

11. Conclusion • Majority of sheep and goats are in the small scale sector • They fulfill multiple socio-economic roles • Their comparative adaptability make them an ideal investment especially for the small holder farmer • There is a bright future for small ruminants production in Zimbabwe. • Information gaps should be addressed by appropriate research from a holistic perspective. • Collaborative efforts need to be strengthened

12. Thank You