1. Livestock and rural poverty
Nearly one billion head of livestock are kept by more than 600 million small farmers and
herders in rural areas around the world
Most of these livestock keepers – about 95 per cent – live in extreme poverty. Even though livestock
keeping offers a promising opportunity to combat poverty in many developing countries, specially as
the demand for animal products such as milk and meat continues to rise, most livestock policies and
services tend to favour large-scale production. In order to take advantage of emerging market
demands and reduce their poverty, small farmers and herders need access to basic services and
technologies, such as veterinary care, good roads and grazing lands, as well as policies that take
account of their needs.
All creatures great and small
Who are livestock keepers? The rancher in Guatemala with a herd of cattle, the farmer in Bangladesh
raising three chickens, the villager in the mountains of eastern Morocco keeping a single hive of bees.
All hold livestock and all have a role to play in reducing poverty.
For poor people, there are many benefits from keeping livestock – from the largest water buffalo to
the smallest insect. Livestock are a form of currency.
For many people, animals represent savings. The sale of livestock and manure can mean quick cash in
hard times.
Income from livestock and their many products – milk, eggs, meat, wool, leather, honey – can allow
poor families to put food on the table, improve their nutrition, send their children to school and
purchase medicine for themselves and their animals.
Livestock also act as a kind of social glue. Loans and gifts of livestock connect people to other family
members, as well as to communities and institutions. In many societies, bride dowries are paid in
livestock. Herders who share livestock with their relatives also share the risks brought by drought and
disease.
Livestock are used to resolve conflicts, pay debts and settle scores. A family’s place in society is often
measured by the amount and kind of livestock it owns.
When women own livestock, their social status can be improved, empowering them to participate in
decision-making.
Livestock serve a practical function, too. They carry heavy loads, help plough fields and provide means
of transportation. Their manure fertilizes the soil. Most livestock graze on straw, grass, kitchen scraps
and other waste, and thus convert unusable materials into high-quality food for humans. Their meat
adds protein to cereal-based diets and can improve the nutrition of children.
The presence of livestock reduces the need for human labour in the fields.
Getting access to the right resources
The right kind of livestock services can make all the difference to poor livestock keepers struggling to
run more efficient businesses and reduce their own poverty.
These services include veterinary care, grazing lands, feed grain, reliable water sources, good roads,
breeding technologies and access to financial services. When a national livestock project in Togo
provided small farmers and herders in 300 rural communities with access to animal vaccines, for
example, the health and productivity of the livestock improved and incomes increased.
Training and expert advice are also important
A poultry-improvement project in Pakistan, for instance, provided women poultry raisers with animal
vaccines and medicines, and training in their use. One year later, flock size and egg production had
increased significantly and chicken deaths had decreased. Another reason for the project’s success

2. was that it took into account the particular needs and problems of the Pakistani women. By
considering the women’s limited financial resources, the organization managing the project kept
operational costs down and enabled the women to prosper.
Poor people themselves need to be involved in the development and selection of livestock services.
Yet their needs are often neglected. Living far from big cities and often illiterate, rural poor people are
seldom asked to take part in the development of policies or the structure of services. To be effective,
livestock services need to address the reality that most rural poor people lack access to vital resources
such as land, water, markets, credit, health services and education.
One way to ensure that poor people are given a voice in decision-making is by helping them form
official producer organizations. A project in the Central African Republic transformed a group of 25,000
regional herders into a national service organization capable of playing a major role in livestock
development. Cooperatives and self-help groups can strengthen the competitive position of poor
livestock keepers and reduce poverty in entire communities. Such initiatives need the support of
governments and development organizations. They can be key to improving livestock services and
empowering the rural poor.