Experiences from the implementation of community-based goat breeding programs in Malawi and Uganda: a potential approach for conservation and improvement of indigenous small ruminants in smallholder farms

Authors: KAUMBATA, WILSON - Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources; NAKIMBUGWE, HELEN - Collaborator; NANDOLO, WILSON - Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources; BANDA, LIVENESS - Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources; MESZAROS, GABOR - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria; GONDWE, TIMOTHY - Lilongwe University Of Agriculture And Natural Resources; Woodward-Greene, Jennifer; Rosen, Benjamin - Ben; Van Tassell, Curtis - Curt; S0LKNER, JOHANN - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria; WURZINGER, MARIA - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria

Submitted to: Sustainability
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2021
Publication Date: 2/1/2021
Citation: Kaumbata, W., Nakimbugwe, H.N., Nandolo, W., Banda, L.J., Meszaros, G., Gondwe, T.N., Woodward Greene, M.J., Rosen, B.D., Van Tassell, C.P., S0lkner, J., Wurzinger, M. 2021. Experiences from the implementation of community-based goat breeding programs in Malawi and Uganda: a potential approach for conservation and improvement of indigenous small ruminants in smallholder farms. Sustainability. 13(3):1494. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031494.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031494

Interpretive Summary: Goats play a key role in small-holder farmer livelihoods in Africa and genetic improvement of goat populations is a current priority on the continent. Community-based breeding programs (CBBPs) have emerged as a promising approach to implement sustainable livestock improvement in smallholder systems. Goat CBBPs were successfully introduced in Malawi and Uganda. Using these two CBBPs as case studies, some of the key milestones that can enhance sustainability include establishment of community-based institutions and policy reforms to safeguard fair trading, access to common resources by small ruminant keepers and adoption of the CBBP model into national livestock development programs. These results show the viability of CBBP to support rural livelihoods while maintaining and improving the diversity of the local goat genetic resources.

Technical Abstract: Maintaining diversity of small ruminant genetic resources is instrumental for sustainable agricultural production. The community-based livestock breeding programs (CBBPs) have emerged as a potential approach to implement breeding programs in smallholder farms. This study assesses the viability of CBBPs as a potential approach for conservation and improvement of indigenous small ruminants, using case studies of goats CBBPs in Malawi and Uganda. Data was collected using focus group discussions, personal interviews, and direct observations. The program promotes and empowers smallholders to have access to small ruminant feed resources through protection of existing communal pasturelands, capacity building in pasture production and conservation of crop residues and crop by-products. Implementation of the CBBP enhances the contributions through improved animal growth performance, kids’ survival and twinning rates leading to increased offtake rates and better prices. Existence of permanently established supporting organizations and other stakeholders provides sustainable institutional support instrumental for establishment and growth of CBBPs. However, establishment of functional community-based institutions (producer cooperatives) and investments in institutional/policy reforms to safeguard fair trading, access to common resources by small ruminant keepers and adoption of the CBBP model into national livestock development programs are some of the key milestones that can guarantee sustainability.