Relevance and feasibility of mini livestock farming in enhancing food security in Southern Africa
Journal Title: Agricultural Advances - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 10
Abstract
Mini livestock is a sustainable form of animal production that has significant potential for alleviating malnutrition and food insecurity in Southern Africa. It should be considered as a normal component of livestock and rural development which has the capacity to improve nutrition and food security. It is very much associated with increased food security as it lends itself to small scale family production. This discussion looks at the opportunities of utilizing mini livestock species as an alternative source of protein solving the food insecurity challenges in Southern Africa. Mini livestock production has diverse economic and social functions in rural communities. It can be valued as one of the livestock sub sectors having enormous potential for enhancing food security. The conventional livestock production sector has been facing multiple challenges as a result of rise in human population, urbanization and climate change. This trend has lead to a rise in demand for livestock products, which means meat productivity or the number of meat animals will have to increase to meet the animal protein demand. The protein production from conventional livestock has been falling, as a result there is need for alternative sources of animal protein supply. Focusing on mini livestock species as an alternative source of protein may be just as important. Most animals in the mini livestock class are promising in enhancing food security because they require little capital, equipment, space and labor. The discussion concludes that mini livestock constitute an important reservoir of genetic animal resources which has not been given adequate recognition. However, it is envisaged the utilization of mini livestock will address the animal protein challenges facing Southern Africa, especially in the resource poor rural communities where the problem is most apparent. Given the economic, social and ecological advantages of mini livestock farming it is arguably deserves even greater attention.
Authors and Affiliations
N. Assan| Zimbabwe Open University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture Management, Bulawayo Region, Box 3550, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP561
- DOI 10.14196/aa.v3i10.1699
- Views 475
- Downloads 22
Effect of split application of nitrogen fertilizer on yield traits and yield of high yielding aromatic rice varieties in
A field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during Aman season in 2013 to evaluate the effect of proper time of nitrogen application on yield and yield parameters of h...
Evaluation of the nutritional potentials of fermented oil bean seed pentaclethra macrophyllah benth
The seeds of fermented African oil bean seed,Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth were analyzed for mineral elements, nutritionaland anti-nutritional contents. The concentrations (mg/100g) of fermentedAfrican oil bean seed f...
An overview of biomass and biogas for energy generation: recent development and perspectives
Biogas from biomass appears to have potential as an alternative energy source, which is potentially rich in biomass resources. This is an overview of some salient points and perspectives of biogas technology. The curre...
Nematode as a soil biodiversity indicator
Nematodes are one of the most abundantanimals on earth. Their food specificity, the high number of species and highabundance in every habitat where decomposition takes place indicates that thestructure of the nematode...
Variations of inferior phrenic and coeliac arteries
The coeliac artery isventral visceral branch of the abdominal aorta and it supplies supracolicorgans. It divides into three branches namely the left gastric, the commonhepatic & the splenic arteries. Vascular variation...