Mamshungulii
Senior Member
- May 3, 2023
- 172
- 85
According to the current trends in the market of sheep and goat sector, it shows that this business is at a critical stage in its development, and it is of utmost urgency to halt its decline, even if this means that some forms of support have to be re-evaluated.
If no action is taken, the future of this sector is certain to be a more severe decline. A drop in meat production of between -7 and -9% may be expected by 2030, reducing the Tanzanian self-sufficiency rate to almost 80% and further marginalizing the sheep and goat sector in the Tanzanian agri-food economy. The potential of these ruminants is increased daily as it is involved in religious rituals so the market is huge if are to be taken into consideration in laws and policies.
It is worth saying that the sheep and goat sector consumes only a small portion of the community budget if we compare to other livestock production.
BETTER SUPPORT FOR PRODUCTION WITH A VIEW TO GREATER TECHNICAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY IN THE FARMS
Tanzania livestock farming is currently in a state of crisis, with incomes on the decrease compared with other sectors, especially crops and ever-increasing costs. Sheep and goat farming is currently seen as being particularly challenged from an economic point of view. Despite some initiatives done by the government and private sectors, small ruminant farmers generally have the lowest income in the livestock industry.
At all levels there is a strong need to send a strong need to send a strong signal to farmers to encourage them not to quit the business and those never engage in this business to start sheep and goat farming.
The question is not “how can we support the sector? But how can we halt the accelerated decline?
It is essential that public authorities recognize the need to restore the balance of income between the various sectors of economic development including the livestock sector.
It is with encouragement that the producers need to undertake in making improvements and increasing their economic, technical and environmental efficiency.
The level of cost reduction, which varies greatly from one holding to another, is all the more challenging in the present economic situation for energy, raw materials and industries.
Moreover, in majority of regions of Tanzania there is a need to improve in technical performance of holdings particularly in lambing rates particularly in terms of farming practices and the quality of the carcasses; a large number of carcasses still do not meet the requirements imposed by producers and distributors.
Sheep farming, often an extensive system of farming that is generally low in energy consumption and implemented in areas where other agricultural activities are less viable, has a genuine role in the conservation of the rural heritage and in environmental protection. It is important that we encourage and support these practices.
In the current state of affairs, with no tangible improvements in the goat and sheep sector, the only possible scenario is an even decline year on year. THE SECTOR NEED SUPPORT IN SEEKING IMPROVED TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY WITH A VIEW TO ACQUARING GREATER INDEPENDENCE FROM PUBLIC SUPPORT.
Here are proposed solutions: -
1. INSTRUMENTS AND JUSTIFICATION
An ewe premium granted partly subject to commitments made by farmers to measures aimed at increased efficiency, would make it possible to restore the balance of income vis-à-vis other sectors and support the efforts made to introduce improvements.
• Commitment to training, peer group review and monitoring of technical and economic performance on farms the BBT is good but not friendly because it is too selective geographically and technical.
• Better use of genetic resources (artificial insemination or use of rams registered as improvers, participation in performance recording and audit systems).
• Improvement of flock health management (use of genotype resistant to scrapie, animal heath prevention plans and specific trainings)
The aid would provide for a fixed portion of compensation for the increase in production cost per ewe lambing during the year and would allocate additional portion per type of commitment, so that those farmers who are strongly committed to moving forward would be better supported.
The commitment would take the form of a contract over a period of five years starting from 2025 and continuing until 2030.The level of support may possibly depend on a distinction being made between milking and non-milking ewes (or she goats).
The aid could provide for an additional amount to be allocated to young farmers in order to encourage them to set up in the sector, but also to holdings in less-favored areas, where sheep are often the last bulwark against desertification and where traditional farming practices suited to these difficult environments are gradually disappearing along with the farmers.
In pastoral areas, specific additional support should be made available to encourage shepherding and pastureland management.
In connection with training, peer group review and monitoring of technical and economic performance, greater support should be given to the provision of farm-relief services during the absence of the farmer.
2. The competent services of the Tanzanian livestock offices must make efforts to secure the reopening of a number of export markets that represents significant outlets for Tanzanian products originating from the sheep and goat sector.
3. A working group party should be set up, including the national veterinary authorities, the veterinary industry, Tanzanian expert in the sector. Veterinary organization, breeders’ associations, in order rapidly to determine the procedures which would allow for simplified marketing authorizations at Tanzanian level in respect of medicinal product for small ruminants., whilst naturally maintaining a high level of animal and consumer health protection.
The support of the public and private authorities is crucial in these sectors, which are characterized by small and medium sized processing enterprises for both meat and cheese made from sheep’s milk and goat’s milk.
The local promotion of farm products, which provide an extremely interesting showcase for the whole ruminant’s sector, these promotional activities could be introduced to tourist areas (farm visits, seasonal farms markets)
If no action is taken, the future of this sector is certain to be a more severe decline. A drop in meat production of between -7 and -9% may be expected by 2030, reducing the Tanzanian self-sufficiency rate to almost 80% and further marginalizing the sheep and goat sector in the Tanzanian agri-food economy. The potential of these ruminants is increased daily as it is involved in religious rituals so the market is huge if are to be taken into consideration in laws and policies.
It is worth saying that the sheep and goat sector consumes only a small portion of the community budget if we compare to other livestock production.
BETTER SUPPORT FOR PRODUCTION WITH A VIEW TO GREATER TECHNICAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY IN THE FARMS
Tanzania livestock farming is currently in a state of crisis, with incomes on the decrease compared with other sectors, especially crops and ever-increasing costs. Sheep and goat farming is currently seen as being particularly challenged from an economic point of view. Despite some initiatives done by the government and private sectors, small ruminant farmers generally have the lowest income in the livestock industry.
At all levels there is a strong need to send a strong need to send a strong signal to farmers to encourage them not to quit the business and those never engage in this business to start sheep and goat farming.
The question is not “how can we support the sector? But how can we halt the accelerated decline?
It is essential that public authorities recognize the need to restore the balance of income between the various sectors of economic development including the livestock sector.
It is with encouragement that the producers need to undertake in making improvements and increasing their economic, technical and environmental efficiency.
The level of cost reduction, which varies greatly from one holding to another, is all the more challenging in the present economic situation for energy, raw materials and industries.
Moreover, in majority of regions of Tanzania there is a need to improve in technical performance of holdings particularly in lambing rates particularly in terms of farming practices and the quality of the carcasses; a large number of carcasses still do not meet the requirements imposed by producers and distributors.
Sheep farming, often an extensive system of farming that is generally low in energy consumption and implemented in areas where other agricultural activities are less viable, has a genuine role in the conservation of the rural heritage and in environmental protection. It is important that we encourage and support these practices.
In the current state of affairs, with no tangible improvements in the goat and sheep sector, the only possible scenario is an even decline year on year. THE SECTOR NEED SUPPORT IN SEEKING IMPROVED TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY WITH A VIEW TO ACQUARING GREATER INDEPENDENCE FROM PUBLIC SUPPORT.
Here are proposed solutions: -
1. INSTRUMENTS AND JUSTIFICATION
An ewe premium granted partly subject to commitments made by farmers to measures aimed at increased efficiency, would make it possible to restore the balance of income vis-à-vis other sectors and support the efforts made to introduce improvements.
• Commitment to training, peer group review and monitoring of technical and economic performance on farms the BBT is good but not friendly because it is too selective geographically and technical.
• Better use of genetic resources (artificial insemination or use of rams registered as improvers, participation in performance recording and audit systems).
• Improvement of flock health management (use of genotype resistant to scrapie, animal heath prevention plans and specific trainings)
The aid would provide for a fixed portion of compensation for the increase in production cost per ewe lambing during the year and would allocate additional portion per type of commitment, so that those farmers who are strongly committed to moving forward would be better supported.
The commitment would take the form of a contract over a period of five years starting from 2025 and continuing until 2030.The level of support may possibly depend on a distinction being made between milking and non-milking ewes (or she goats).
The aid could provide for an additional amount to be allocated to young farmers in order to encourage them to set up in the sector, but also to holdings in less-favored areas, where sheep are often the last bulwark against desertification and where traditional farming practices suited to these difficult environments are gradually disappearing along with the farmers.
In pastoral areas, specific additional support should be made available to encourage shepherding and pastureland management.
In connection with training, peer group review and monitoring of technical and economic performance, greater support should be given to the provision of farm-relief services during the absence of the farmer.
2. The competent services of the Tanzanian livestock offices must make efforts to secure the reopening of a number of export markets that represents significant outlets for Tanzanian products originating from the sheep and goat sector.
3. A working group party should be set up, including the national veterinary authorities, the veterinary industry, Tanzanian expert in the sector. Veterinary organization, breeders’ associations, in order rapidly to determine the procedures which would allow for simplified marketing authorizations at Tanzanian level in respect of medicinal product for small ruminants., whilst naturally maintaining a high level of animal and consumer health protection.
The support of the public and private authorities is crucial in these sectors, which are characterized by small and medium sized processing enterprises for both meat and cheese made from sheep’s milk and goat’s milk.
The local promotion of farm products, which provide an extremely interesting showcase for the whole ruminant’s sector, these promotional activities could be introduced to tourist areas (farm visits, seasonal farms markets)
