Mumba Chisoni, Kasanga Bertha, Mwamba Chisanga T, Sichilima Timothy, Siankwilimba Enock, Sitali Doreen C, Munkombwe Joshua, Banda Reuben, Muma John Bwalya
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
District Veterinary Office, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia.
Front Vet Sci. 2024 Nov 19;11:1397000. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1397000. eCollection 2024.
The low participation of small-scale farmers in livestock markets in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, is a major inhibitor to private sector investment in the livestock subsector. Despite the immense potential of the livestock industry to bolster the economic development of countries in this region, several socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors contribute to this hindrance.
This study was conducted in the Western Province of Zambia and adopted a qualitative research approach to understand the challenges and barriers affecting livestock markets among smallholder cattle farmers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 key informants and focus group discussions involving key actors in the dairy and beef value chains. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the gathered data.
Four themes, including socioeconomic, cultural, market dynamics, and policy and regulatory factors, emerged from this analysis. The sub-themes for socioeconomic factors included access to capital, infrastructure challenges, limited technical knowledge, and inadequate veterinary services. Cultural factors included traditional practices, social norms, and perceptions of livestock, and subthemes for market dynamics included price volatility, lack of market information, and middlemen exploitation. The sub-themes for policy and regulatory factors included policy inconsistencies, land tenure issues, and inadequate government support.
By identifying and understanding these factors, policymakers and stakeholders can develop effective and sustainable targeted interventions and policies to encourage smallholder cattle farmers' participation in the livestock sector.
在撒哈拉以南非洲地区，包括赞比亚在内，小规模农户在牲畜市场的参与度较低，这是私营部门对畜牧业进行投资的主要阻碍因素。尽管畜牧业对该地区各国的经济发展具有巨大潜力，但多种社会经济、环境和文化因素导致了这一阻碍。
本研究在赞比亚西部省份开展，采用定性研究方法来了解影响小农户养牛户牲畜市场的挑战和障碍。对23名关键信息提供者进行了深入访谈，并与乳制品和牛肉价值链中的关键行为者进行了焦点小组讨论。采用主题分析法对收集到的数据进行分析。
该分析得出了四个主题，包括社会经济、文化、市场动态以及政策和监管因素。社会经济因素的子主题包括获得资本、基础设施挑战、技术知识有限以及兽医服务不足。文化因素包括传统习俗、社会规范以及对牲畜的认知，市场动态的子主题包括价格波动、缺乏市场信息以及中间商剥削。政策和监管因素的子主题包括政策不一致、土地保有权问题以及政府支持不足。
通过识别和理解这些因素，政策制定者和利益相关者可以制定有效且可持续的针对性干预措施和政策，以鼓励小农户养牛户参与畜牧业。
