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Chobe bull in Botswana (photo credit: ILRI/Saskia Hendrickx).

By Andrew Wangili

In Botswana, livestock production accounts for 80% of the agricultural sector’s output. A harsh climate and poor soils make most of the country unfavourable for crop farming. Beef export is the chief foreign earner at 57% and livestock production creates employment and is a source of food for rural populations.

Sirak Bahta from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Patrick Malope from Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) conducted a study to measure competitiveness in smallholder livestock systems and emerging policy in Botswana.

Their study, which is part of the Competitive Smallholder Livestock in Botswana project, was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and implemented by ILRI and the Botswana Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Research.

Livestock production in the country is done in both commercial and communal systems. In the communal/traditional system, animals graze in open rangelands with no defined property rights to grazing resources and with few fences, while under the commercial production system farms are fenced and owners’ have exclusive rights to grazing resources.

Majority of the country’s livestock is done in communal systems (holding 88% of cattle and 98% of small stock (sheep and goats) in 2011), but commercial farms produce more than the communal system.

Past studies on Botswana’s beef competitiveness omitted productivity and efficiency as measures of competitiveness at the farm level. For instance, a 2006 BIDPA study measured competitiveness at the macro level using trade-related data and aggregate production. But its trade-related indices failed to take into account productivity or efficiency at the farm level.

This ILRI and BIDPA study tried to fill that gap by using the relative profit efficiency approach. A household survey approach was used to collect data in Chobe, Central and Southeast districts of Botswana. The survey assembled detailed information on costs and returns of livestock production encompassing different farm sizes across the selected districts. This information enabled the researchers to identify determinants of profitability, or profit efficiency and policy options to enhance competitiveness at farm level.

Results

The results of the study showed that:

• Education level of the household head significantly affects farmer profit. Well-educated farmers are more efficient than those less educated.
• Farmers travelling long distances to markets to sell their animals are more efficient, this is because farmers hope to get better prices by accessing different markets.
• Farmers who own large numbers of cattle’s are more efficient than those with fewer due to higher gross profit margins they get with larger herds.
• Farmers who earn income from crop production are more efficient than those with none, because this income can be reinvested in livestock farming to increase production.
• Farmers who have access to agricultural information are more effective.

This study identified education, distance to commonly-used markets, herd size, income from crop production and access to information as drivers of competitiveness (efficiency).

It also showed that there is widespread profit inefficiency in livestock production in Botswana due to variability in farm practices. The study says farm profits can be improved by focusing policies on reducing input prices and encouraging beef farmers to engage in fodder production where possible.

Download the article here.

Competitive smallholder livestock production conference participants with Botswana’s Hon Patrick Ralotsia, acting Minister of Agriculture (photo credit ILRI/Muthoni U. Njiru).

By Andrew Wangili

On 4-6 March 2015, over 100 scientists, development agents, government institutions staff and private operators from Africa and other parts of the world converged in Gaborone, Botswana to discuss policies for competitive livestock production.

The conference was organized by the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). It discussed the following thematic areas in smallholder livestock production:

Measures of competitiveness in smallholder livestock production and policy advocacy

This sub-theme featured two stories and presentations contributed by ILRI staff on ‘Measurement of competitiveness in smallholder livestock production and policy advocacy’ by Sirak Bahta and Patrick Malope, and ‘Technical efficiency and technological gaps among smallholder beef farms in Botswana: a stochastic meta-frontier approach’ by Sirak Bahta, Derek Baker, Patrick Malope and Hikuepi Katijuongua. A third presentation was made by Tebogo Seleka of BIDPA on ‘International competitiveness of Botswana’s beef industry.’

Competitiveness of smallholder livestock producers is indicated by levels of productivity (stocking rate, calving rate, birth rate and mortality rate), profitability (quality of products, prices) and efficiency (cost of production). Although there are indicators of competitiveness, smallholder livestock producers continue to be affected by poor policies, little support from institutions and government, lack of subsidies and little training of farmers..

Participants suggested the following measures to enhance competitiveness of smallholder livestock producers and policy advocacy:

• Equipping farmers with skills and knowledge through frequent capacity building sessions.
• Providing subsidies to smallholder livestock producers.
• Participatory approach to policy formulation where all stakeholders in livestock production are consulted.
• Private-public partnership in policy implementation.

Role of collective action in enhancing competitiveness in smallholder livestock farmers

This sub-theme featured a story by Patrick Malope and two presentations on the ‘Role of collective action in enhancing the competitiveness of smallholder livestock production: Case of Namibia’ and ‘Dairy business hubs as collective action in enhancing competitiveness of smallholder producers in Kenya’.

Participants said that functional and vibrant smallholder livestock groups need:

• Farmers to be trained on the benefits of collective action and mentored in creating groups.
• Visionary leaders to guide the groups towards a common goal.
• Governance structures that facilitate group decision-making, coordination and management.
• Financial support by government providing incentives and lowering lending/interest rates.
• Government and other stakeholders to set up and support farmer-to-farmer groups benchmarking, where farmers share best practices.
• Effective policies that protect smallholder farmer groups from unfair competition.
• Government to improve transport systems and encourage the use of technology in disseminating information to farmers.

If implemented, the recommendations from this meeting could boost the competitiveness of smallholder livestock producers in Africa.

See presentations of this event.

Read wiki for this event

This poster at the 2014 Tropentag Conference presents information on a study to measure competitiveness in Botswana’s beef value chain and identify the factors affecting it, so as to advocate change in Botswana’s smallholder livestock systems.

This week, ILRI staff are participating in the Tropentag 2014 International Conference in Prague (17-19 September 2014). There is also a dedicated ‘ILRI@40’ side event on ‘Livestock-based options for sustainable food and nutritional security and healthy lives.’  See all the posters.

This poster for the Tropentag 2014 conference shares findings from a study that explored the existing value chains in which livestock products are produced and traded in Botswana.

This week, ILRI staff are participating in the Tropentag 2014 International Conference in Prague (17-19 September 2014). There is also a dedicated ‘ILRI@40’ side event on ‘Livestock-based options for sustainable food and nutritional security and healthy lives.’  See all the posters.

The conference aims to provide an opportunity for African and international scientists and the broader stakeholder groups in the livestock production sector to discuss competitiveness in livestock production systems and improving the livelihoods of livestock farmers, especially smallholders, with emphasis on southern Africa.

The broader objectives of the conference are to gather researchers, policymakers and development partners working in the area of assessing competitiveness in agricultural food production and marketing, and to provide answers to various questions rotating around four thematic areas.

It is hoped that at the end of the conference, there will be specific recommendations for the key questions and how to enhance the competitiveness of smallholder farmers so that they participate more in markets and hence improve their livelihoods.

The conference program committee is calling for papers and posters that address the various development issues related to competitiveness of smallholder livestock farming in southern Africa under the following sub-themes:

• Measures of competitiveness in smallholder livestock production and policy advocacy
• Market access and utilization
• The role of collective action in enhancing competitiveness of smallholder livestock farmers
• The role of governments in the provision of livestock support services
• Economics of animal health and trade in the competitiveness of smallholder livestock production systems

Important deadlines to note 
Submission of abstracts: 15 December 2014
Notification of acceptance: 18 December 2014
Submission of full paper/poster: 30 January 2015
Final decisions on full papers/posters: 4 February 2015

For more information, you may contact any of the following conference organizers

• Patrick Malope (BIDPA): pmalope@bidpa.bw
• Sirak Bahta (ILRI): s.bahta@cgiar.org
• Hikuepi (Epi) Katjiuongua (ILRI): h.katjiuongua@cgiar.org
• Derek Baker (University of New England): abaker33@une.edu.au

Mahalapye cattle in Botswana (photo credit: ILRI/Saskia Hendrickx).

In December 2012, a snapshot survey was conducted in two villages (Taupye and Thabala) and one semi-urban area (Serowe) in Botswana’s Central District. The aim of the survey was to characterize, using rapid appraisal techniques, the knowledge, practices, structure and performance of value chain actors.

The survey included focus group discussions and individual interviews with farmers, butchers, supermarkets and consumers and discussion of the results with stakeholders in February 2013.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has published the findings of the survey in four research briefs, accessible via the links below

• Financial performance of livestock households in central Botswana: Results of a snapshot survey
• Meat markets in central Botswana: Results of a snapshot survey of consumer and retailer perceptions and preferences
• A sketch of the smallholder livestock producer in central Botswana: Results of a snapshot survey
• Livestock marketing channels in central Botswana: Results of a snapshot survey

For more information, contact Sirak Bahta (s.bahta@cgiar.org)

More about partners…..

Over a two week period and together with colleagues from the Botswana Ministry of Agriculture, she travelled to Central and Chobe districts to visit a total of five teams. The trip to South East district had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

During the visits, the following aspects were assessed: trainee attitude, logistical arrangements for the field visits, technical skills (semi-structured interviews and use of participatory epidemiology tools), sampling and data recording and analysis.

The overall performance of the trainees visited was good especially considering that many of them had not been able to conduct any interviews since the training course because of more pressing duties in relation to the foot and mouth disease review mission from the European Union.

A 3-day refresher course is planned for late May 2013 when the teams will present their findings. In addition, the colleagues from the laboratory will present the results of the analysis of the samples taken.