Small-scale cattle production in Eastern province, Zambia: objectives, productivity and constraints

The paper describes small-scale cattle production in Eastern province, Zambia by considering the objectives of small-scale cattle farmers, husbandry practices, indicators of productivity, typology, efficiency, constraints and objectives for small-scale cattle development. The study is based on a questionnaire survey of 209 small-scale farmers keeping cattle. The results show that small-scale farmers mainly keep cattle as a store of wealth, for draught power, to minimize risk,and for milk production. The small-scale farmers can be grouped into relatively high, medium and low-productivity small-scale farmers. The study shows that in order to improve the efficiency of small-scale cattle production in the study area, there is a need to increase calving rates and to reduce mortality rates, specifically by increasing the utilization of veterinary inputs and improving extension services. This should be accompanied by improvements in the marketing arrangements for agricultural products in general, and for cattle and cattle products in particular, and access to credit. The general strategy should consist, on the one hand, of increasing the productivity and performance of those small-scale farmers not attaining minimum productivity levels, and on the other hand, of improving the marketing possibilities for small-scale farmers who are performing well.