Small Ruminant CRSP - University
of Missouri
Annual Report 1994-1995
Executive Summary
Researchers of the Sociology
and Economics of Small Ruminant Production
Systems Project of the Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support Program
(SR-CRSP) carried out activities in three Research Components. These are
Sustainable Agropastoral Systems in Marginal Lands-Bolivia, the
Kenyan Dual Purpose Goat and Animal Health Management through
Biotechnology.
University of Missouri researchers in collaboration
with researchers in host country institutions, Instituto Boliviano de Tecnologia
Agropecuaria (IBTA) and Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI),
conducted research and training activities in Bolivia, Kenya and the United
States. This collaboration and the support of AID Missions enabled us to
continue our research activities in a year of drastic budget cuts. Fortunately
these have been reversed for 1995-1996 allowing us to complete our planned
activities. This report presents the research and training activities as
well as the reports and presentations in 1994-1995. The Management Entity
of the SR-CRSP will be soon publishing the full SR-CRSP report.
- Sustainable
Agropastoral Systems in Marginal Lands-Bolivia
This SR-CRSP component focuses on understanding and developing
small ruminant production technologies and policies (including marketing)
appropriate for crop-livestock systems facing a high degree of climatic
and socio-economic perturbations. Research and training activities are
both disciplinary and interdisciplinary. These are range ecology, animal
nutrition, economics, sociology and anthropology. The University of Missouri,
Winrock International, Utah State University and Texas Tech University
conducted research from 1992 to 1994. Utah State University and University
of Missouri-Columbia continue their participation in this research component.
Utah conducts the research in range ecology and nutrition and University
of Missouri in social sciences.
The SR-CRSP suffered severe budget cuts during the reported year. Fortunately
PL480 funds and the support of the USAID Mission in Bolivia, as well as
our institutions in the U.S. and Bolivia, allowed us to continue research
and training activities. This took place in the agropastoral community
of San José Llanga, with dairy sheep and crops as their main agricultural
activities. An assessment of the household production system (llama and
alpacas, and sheep) in Santiago de Machaca was completed. The nutritional
status of families, and in particular children=s
was assessed in San José Llanga. Efforts currently concentrate on
determining the influence of livestock and access to livestock products
on nutrition. Gender analysis showed the importance of women in livestock
production, especially sheep production and marketing. Sales of sheep,
mainly carried out by the female head of household have been crucial in
generation of cash for food and other household purchases. A herding and
grazing study conducted this year demonstrated that women, adult and young,
are sheep herders and managers.
Income diversification strategies were analyzed with longitudinal and cross
sectional studies in with longitudinal and cross sectional studies in 1993-1994.
A household survey, similar to one applied in 1993, was conducted in 1994-1995,
a year of delayed rains and potato frosts. The purpose is to assess the
role of livestock (cattle and sheep) under climatic perturbations. The
project is currently (1995-1996) looking at the local and macro terms of
trade between agricultural and non agricultural production. Cluster analysis
was used to identify target production groups for technological interventions.
A detailed study of the marketing system in the area of San Jose and the
Aroma Province and the relationship to the La Paz city market is under
way. Research on on the role of livestock in nutrition, economic growth
and as a strategy for dealing with high climatic perturbations continue
in 1995-1996.
- Kenyan Dual
Purpose Goat (KDPG)
Impact assessment of the KDPG continued during the period covered
by this report. The included a baseline study and monitoring of 5 clusters
of farmers in two regions of Kenya. A survey of the markets for goats was
completed. These activities were undertaken in close collaboration with
the Socio-economics programs at Katumani and Mtwapa Research Centres and
with various other institutions. Processing of the baseline survey was
finalized and the information distributed in August of 1995. The monitoring
of the KDPG proceeded well in Machakos, but faced several problems in the
Coast. Collaborating scientists through other funding sources continued
the monitoring. Funding for 1995-1996 has contributed to solve many of
the problems faced by the monitoring activity in the clusters.
- Animal Health
Management through Biotechnology
The research undertaken this year consisted of two main activities.
The first was an assessment of animal health problems and coping strategies
in the KDPG research sites, the Coast and the Machakos districts. A survey
was conducted to identify the perceived problems in cattle and goats, and
determine the ways in which farmers dealt with them. There was interest
in looking at the farmers experience in seeking veterinary assistance for
cattle and goats. A second activity was a literature review of the methodologies
for measuring the impact of animal health services and vaccines to be used
in a study of the returns to research investments in CCPP. This was completed,
but it was not applied due to lack of funding to carry out required data
collection, and a demand study.
Corinne
Valdivia
Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Missouri-Columbia
200 Mumford Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
U.S.A.
ssvaldiv@muccmail.missouri.edu
Fax: (573)882- 3958
The full report of this research component
is published by the University of California, Management Entity for the
Small Ruminant CRSP. Copies may be requested from:
Small
Ruminant CRSP
Management Entity
258 Hunt Hall
Davis, CA 95616