An investigation into the potential contribution of small ruminants production to rural livelihood on Lofa country, Liberia
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Date
2011
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This research was carried out to analyze and evaluate the husbandry system for small ruminant production in Lofa County, Liberia and to estimate its potential contribution to rural livelihoods. Specifically, this research investigated the potential and extent to which small ruminant production contributes towards sustainable rural protein food supply and income generation. The existing opportunities and challenges in rural small ruminant production in the three districts of Lofa County (Voinjama, Kolahun and Foya) were thereby investigated. Structured questionnaires were administered to 438 rural farmers' households to provide demographic information, species and breed of small ruminants kept, the number of animals in the herd, and periodic yield of stock. Baseline statistics on the rural farming community was determined using participatory discussion (face-to-face interview) with members of the rural households, county agricultural staff and agricultural NGO officials. Data was analyzed using SPSS software to determine frequency distributions, cross-tabulation, figures, ANOVA tables and correlations. This research reveals that small ruminant production contributes 30.2 of the household income, which was significant (P0.01) and also was a significant source of meat (P0.05) but had no significant (P0.05) influence on poaching by rural farmers. It reports some of the identified animal health challenges in small ruminant production in the studied area. This makes small ruminant production to be second highest contributor of rural livelihoods to crops. The information derived from this study will serve as baseline for livestock agribusiness development needed especially in post-war Liberia
This research was carried out to analyze and evaluate the husbandry system for small ruminant production in Lofa County, Liberia and to estimate its potential contribution to rural livelihoods. Specifically, this research investigated the potential and extent to which small ruminant production contributes towards sustainable rural protein food supply and income generation. The existing opportunities and challenges in rural small ruminant production in the three districts of Lofa County (Voinjama, Kolahun and Foya) were thereby investigated. Structured questionnaires were administered to 438 rural farmers' households to provide demographic information, species and breed of small ruminants kept, the number of animals in the herd, and periodic yield of stock. Baseline statistics on the rural farming community was determined using participatory discussion (face-to-face interview) with members of the rural households, county agricultural staff and agricultural NGO officials. Data was analyzed using SPSS software to determine frequency distributions, cross-tabulation, figures, ANOVA tables and correlations. This research reveals that small ruminant production contributes 30.2 of the household income, which was significant (P0.01) and also was a significant source of meat (P0.05) but had no significant (P0.05) influence on poaching by rural farmers. It reports some of the identified animal health challenges in small ruminant production in the studied area. This makes small ruminant production to be second highest contributor of rural livelihoods to crops. The information derived from this study will serve as baseline for livestock agribusiness development needed especially in post-war Liberia
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
Keywords
Ruminants Liberia, Ruminants production, rural livelihood, Liberia