Going for more animals
Animals play an important role in rural life: besides milk, meat, eggs and wool, they provide manure for growing crops, and they also serve as a savings account for people. In this issue we were interested in showing how small-scale farmers manage their animals in their farming systems and how they link it with other economic activities. What advantages does such an integrated approach bring in terms of food availability, productivity, efficiency or sustainability?
Current developments in the world’s food production and consumption systems make this all particularly relevant. Meat consumption is growing drastically, leading to serious problems in terms of, for example, deforestation and emission of greenhouse gases. What role can small-scale farmers play in order to ensure food security? Can small-scale farmers avoid the risks that characterise industrial production? And how do they manage livestock where land competition is high?
What advantages does such an integrated approach bring in terms of food availability, productivity, efficiency or sustainability? Current developments in the world's food production and consumption systems make this all particularly relevant. Meat consumption is growing drastically, leading to serious problems in terms of, for example, deforestation and emission of greenhouse gases. What role can small-scale farmers play in order to ensure food security? Can small-scale farmers avoid the risks that characterise industrial production? And how do they manage livestock where land competition is high?
Featured articles
Food as a universal rightOlivier De Schutter is special rapporteur on the right to food for the United Nations. In this function he meets many high officials and policymakers to talk about small farmers |
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Re-assessing the fodder problemSmall-scale farmers depend largely on their animals and need to feed them well. Technology based innovations have been the mainstream solution to improve the fodder problem. But making farmers find relevant information and networks appears to be as much effective for innovation. |
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Unpacking a poultry myth"Improved" poultry breeds do not always improve farmers' conditions. Indigenous breeds are often much better adapted to climate, need less input and are in general better appreciated for taste and ceremonial functions. A case from India. |
Table of contents:
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Complete issue as a PDF file, 44 pages, 2.3 MB
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1 - 1Cover photo
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2 - 2written by Edith van WalsumThe many reactions we received in response to our renewed magazine make one thing clear: family farming is very much alive. The conference on the future of family farming hosted by ileia last December 2009, in celebration of our 25th birthday, also affirmed this.
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3 - 3written by Ellen GeerlingsThe woman and daughter in this photo live in Fayoum governorate in Egypt. This is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, which is why many people keep their poultry on the roofs of their houses.
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4 - 5A lot to gain: the benefits of animals
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6 - 6In our previous issue, we published a photo with the article on SRI that showed exactly the opposite of what SRI stands for: rice fields should be kept moist but not flooded. This photo better captures this principle. Thanks to the observant reader who pointed this out to us.
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7 - 12written by Lucy MaarseAnimals are a part of farming systems everywhere. In this issue, Farming Matters focuses on how small-scale farmers manage their animals, how they link animal husbandry with other activities, and what their livestock means to them. An integrated perspective on the role of farm animals is crucial in overcoming simplistic assumptions on the opportunities and threats that livestock presents to family farmers.
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13 - 13written by Anil GuptaIn terms of climate change, Anil Gupta feels that we must recognise that the future leaders of the fight against it will be the unsung heroes currently surviving in flood-prone villages and communities in the Arctic region, in deserts and on the coasts. They are the ones who still have insights about coping with long and short term changes in climate. They are the owners of in-depth knowledge about local survival and support systems.
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14 - 17written by Mireille VermeulenInterview > Olivier De Schutter - Olivier De Schutter is the United Nations special rapporteur on the right to food. He aims to inform people at the highest political levels about the role that smallholders play in the world’s food production systems. He hopes that this will make decision-makers more sensitive to their needs and rights.
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19 - 21written by Sagari Ramdas , Vinod AhujaLivestock services are crucial for a healthy, resilient stock of animals.
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22 - 24Livestock > Local vs Exotic poultry ("Improved" poultry breeds do not always improve farmers’ conditions. Indigenous breeds are often much better adapted to climate, need less input and are in general better appreciated for taste and ceremonial functions. Plus, they can significantly boost the income of rural communities. A case from India.)
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25 - 25written by Joachim OtteOne way for "dollar-poor" small-scale farmers to increase their income per hectare is to switch to higher value agricultural products, such as meat, milk or eggs. Stronger engagement in livestock production, however, exposes smallholders to additional risks, such as losing their animals through theft, predation or disease. While farmers’ management practices provide some resilience to common diseases, public interventions are needed to help cope with epidemics.
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26 - 27New books from Greenpeace International, Agribusiness Action Initiatives, ACF International Network and others
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28 - 31written by Mona DhamankarSmall-scale farmers depend largely on their animals and need to feed them well. Technology based innovations have been the mainstream solution to improve the fodder problem. But making farmers find relevant information and networks appears to be as much effective for innovation.
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32 - 34written by Jonathan Davies , Guyo M. RobaPastoralism provides a living for between 100 and 200 million households, from the Asian steppes to the Andes. But misguided policies are undermining its sustainability. Farming Matters looked at how governments can best strengthen the governance of pastoral systems and find more equitable ways to include pastoralists in policy making. Land tenure and joint management prove crucial to the answer.
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35 - 35written by Mundie SalmAround the world, pastoralists are asking for better education programmes. "We need to move beyond thinking about schools as buildings, and find creative ways to bring education to nomadic peoples!" So states Caroline Dyer, lecturer at Leeds University, just back from Kenya, where a new education strategy to reach mobile pastoralists has been launched.
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36 - 37written by Willem van WeperenSince the break up of the Soviet Union, small livestock keepers in Tajikistan have witnessed a worrying trend: using manure for fuel has negatively impacted soil fertility, resulting in a dramatic reduction in crop yield, and a matching drop in farmers’ livelihoods. More intensive livestock keeping could help curb this trend.
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38 - 39All over the world, farmers, and the organisations they work with, are showing the many benefits which livestock brings, and are also showing ways to increase these benefits. These are only a few examples of the many interesting ideas and practices seen in the field.
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40 - 40Water is a scarce resource, and one which is unevenly distributed. Estimates say that only one percent of the world’s water resources are fresh and renewable, and thus available for man’s many uses.
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41 - 41written by Luis Gomero OsorioBeing the odd-one-out can be difficult, not least in agricultural production. This is why we were interested in hearing more about the state of HECOSAN, an ecologically managed farm found on the outskirts of Lima, in Peru, surrounded by conventional cotton farms.
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42 - 43How do people in various regions in the world look at the talks held in Copenhagen? And what do they think is the best plan of action for the future? Our partners from Indonesia, China and East Africa report.
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