Challenges and Opportunities for Agro-Pastoral Livestock Smallholders in Mali

Abstract

This paper reports on an in-depth assessment of smallholder livestock production in rainfed agro-pastoral communities of Mali through an analysis of data from 36 case studies. Approximately 1,108 farmers were involved, with twothirds of the case studies focusing on ruminant production and the remainder dealing with cooperative capacity building. Feeding and forage-related needs were the most frequently assessed in the case studies involving smallholders raising small ruminants or cattle, whereas organization-related needs were the most frequently assessed in those involving smallholder livestock cooperatives. Meeting the feed and forage requirements of small ruminants and cattle is the most urgent need for livestock smallholders, but addressing this challenge will be difficult without concurrent control of the breeding season and common diseases as well as implementation of appropriate methods to track and cull unproductive animals. Empowerment of grassroots organizations, particularly women's cooperatives, through literacy programmes and effective extension outreach could have significant impacts on the improvement of smallholder livestock enterprises.

Realizing Livelihood and Environmental Benefits of Forages in Tropical Crop-Tree-Livestock Systems

“…A. Commercial livestock production: Holmann, 2000, 2004a,b;Murgueitio et al, 2015;Bowen et al, 2016;Enciso et al, , 2020Chizmar et al, 2020;Ruden et al, 2020 (Continued) Pezo et al, 2007;Nakamanee et al, 2008;Gontijo de Lima et al, 2015;Negassa et al, 2016;Creemers and Alvarez Aranguiz, 2019;Harrison et al, 2019;Burkart and Urrea-Benítez, 2020;Ntakyo et al, 2020;Ohmstedt, 2020a,b;Neres et al, 2021 Co-creation of knowledge Pezo et al, 2007;Bautista Solís, 2012;Geng et al, 2017;Dumont et al, 2019;David et al, 2020 Social values and diets Rudel et al, 2015;Gupta, 2016;Shapiro et al, 2019;Ruden et al, 2020Fairness Calle et al, 2009Broom et al, 2013;Cibils et al, 2015Connectivity Chakoma et al, 2016Lie et al, 2017;Lema et al, 2021 Land and natural resources governance Garrett et al, 2017b;Tapasco et al, 2019Participation Ayele et al, 2012Lie et al, 2017Lie et al, , 2018Tapasco et al, 2019;Burkart and Urrea-Benítez, 2020 genetic tolerance against certain pests and diseases or the use of forages in the push-pull system replaces chemical pest control measures (e.g., against stemborer and striga). Fou...…”

Table_1.DOCX

“…A. Commercial livestock production: Holmann, 2000, 2004a,b;Peters et al, 2001;Shelton and Dalzell, 2007;Murgueitio et al, 2015;Bowen et al, 2016;Schiek et al, 2018;Charry et al, 2019;Enciso et al, 2019Enciso et al, , 2020Chizmar et al, 2020;Ruden et al, 2020 (Continued) Pezo et al, 2007;Nakamanee et al, 2008;Gontijo de Lima et al, 2015;Negassa et al, 2016;Charry et al, 2019;Creemers and Alvarez Aranguiz, 2019;Harrison et al, 2019;Mwendia et al, 2019;Burkart and Urrea-Benítez, 2020;Ntakyo et al, 2020;Ohmstedt, 2020a,b;Dey et al, 2021;Neres et al, 2021 Co-creation of knowledge Peters and Lascano, 2003;Pezo et al, 2007;Bautista Solís, 2012;Geng et al, 2017;Dumont et al, 2019;David et al, 2020 Social values and diets Rudel et al, 2015;Gupta, 2016;Charry et al, 2019;Shapiro et al, 2019;Ruden et al, 2020Fairness Calle et al, 2009Broom et al, 2013;Cibils et al, 2015Connectivity Chakoma et al, 2016Lie et al, 2017;Lema et al, 2021 Land and natural resources governance…”