Poverty is a rural dilemma and continues to be a persistent multidimensional problem. It is associated with poor farmers, small farm systems, the landless, resource endowments, the socioeconomic environment and externalities. Over 75% of the poor live and work in rural areas, trapped in a poverty–adaptation–fragile lives–little hope–low life expectancy complex, with an enduring hope for self-reliance and a more comfortable life tomorrow. Since agricultural growth is central to improved livelihoods, strategies that focus on promoting such growth are critical: improved efficiency in natural resource management (NRM), of which animals are a part, can directly contribute to productivity enhancement and reduced poverty. It is estimated that approximately 678 million of the rural poor keep animals, within which the largest ownership of animals is seen in mixed crop–animal systems. The role and contribution of animals is discussed with reference to household benefits — current, medium-term and long-term savings, increased productivity of mixed farm systems, sustainability of agricultural systems and the environment, and enhancement of social stability. While large ruminants (buffalo and cattle) are very valuable for agriculture and farm security, milk and beef, ploughing and dung production, small animals (goats, sheep, chickens, pigs and ducks) are particularly important for nutritional and household security. The link between gender and animals is emphasized, especially the implications of the very strong relationship between women and children and small animals. This paper describes in detail characteristics of poor farmers and small farm systems. It discusses opportunities for NRM, and presents examples of data from different categories of animals and the extent of their contribution to total farm income, which in Asia ranges from 7–69%. It is concluded that improved animal production systems can increasingly make a significant contribution to improved human welfare, rural growth and reduced poverty. To achieve this, however, much more investment in agricultural research and development is necessary that can target less-favoured rainfed areas, coupled with participatory and interdisciplinary approaches, effective public–private sector partnerships, and commitment to purpose.
ADB, Fighting Poverty in Asia and the Pacific: the Poverty Reduction Strategy, Asian Development Bank, Manila, 1999.
2.
AhujaV. B.BidaniB.FerreriaF., and WaltonM. (1997), ‘Everyone's miracle? Revisiting poverty and inequality in East Asia’, Directions in Development Series, World Bank, Washington, DC.
3.
AlstonJ. M.PardeyP. G., and RoseboomG. (1998), ‘Financing agriculture research: International investment patterns and policy interventions’, World Development, Vo l 26, No 6, pp 1057–1071.
4.
Central Research Institute for Food Crops — CRIFC (1995), Final Report on Crop–Animal Systems Research, CRIFC, Bogor, Indonesia.
5.
ChantalakhanaC. (1990), ‘Small farm animal production and sustainable agriculture’, Proceedings III Asian–Australasian Animal Science Congress, Taipei, Vol 2, pp 39–58.
6.
ChantalakhanaC., and SkunmunP. (2000), Fighting Bulls and Southern Thailand (in Thai), Kasetsart University, Bangkok.
7.
ChowdaryS., and BarhatN. K. (2000), ‘Role of women in Thar desert of India’, Proceedings 7th International Congress on Goats, Tours, Vol 11, p 705.
8.
De HaanA., and LiptonM. (1998), ‘Poverty in emerging Asia: Progress and setbacks and log-jams’, Asian Development Review, Vol 16, pp 135–176.
9.
DelgadoC.RosegrantM.SteinfeldH.EhuiS., and CourboisC. (1999), Livestock to 2020: the Next Food Revolution, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
10.
DeocarezaA. G., and DiestaH. E. (1993), ‘Animal production under improved pasture under coconuts’, Proceedings Regional Working Group on Forages, Khon Kaen, Thailand, pp 183–193.
11.
DevendraC. (1983), ‘Small farm systems combining crops and animals’, Proceedings Fifth World Conference in Animal Production, Tokyo, Vol 1, pp 173–191.
12.
DevendraC. (1991), ‘The potential for integration of small ruminants and tree cropping systems in South and South East Asia’, World Animal Review (FAO), Vol 66, pp 13–22.
13.
DevendraC. (1996), ‘Opportunities for increasing the economic contribution of small ruminants in Asia’, Proceedings Sustainable Parasite Control in Small Ruminants, ACIAR Proceedings No 74, pp 27–32.
14.
DevendraC. (1997), ‘Crop residues for feeding animal in Asia. Technology development and adoption in crop/livestock systems’, in RenardC., ed, Crop Residues in Sustainable Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming Systems, CAB International, Wallingford.
15.
DevendraC. (1998), ‘Improvement of small ruminant production systems in rainfed agro-ecological zones in Asia’, Annals of Arid Zone, Vol 37, pp 215–232.
16.
DevendraC. (1999a), ‘Goats: Challenges for increased productivity and improved livelihoods’, Outlook on Agriculture, Vol 28, pp 215–226.
17.
DevendraC. (1999b), ‘Mixed farming and intensification of animal production in Asia’, in Proceedings of the ILRI/FAO Roundtable on Livestock Development in Low Income Countries, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, pp 133–144.
18.
DevendraC. (2001), ‘Productivity enhancement in animal production systems in Asia’, Proceedings Asian Agricultural Congress, Manila, (in press).
19.
DevendraC. (2002), ‘Crop–animal systems in Asia: Implications for research’, Agricultural Systems, Vol 71, pp 169–178.
20.
DevendraC., and PezoD. (2002), ‘Improvement of crop–animal systems and rainfed agriculture to food security and livelihoods in South East Asia’, Proceedings International Symposium on Sustaining Food Security and Managing Natural Resources in Southeast Asia, Eiselen Foundation, Ulm, Germany, and Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, pp 129–131.
21.
DevendraC., and ThomasD. (2002), ‘Crop–animal interactions in mixed farming systems in Asia’, Agricultural Systems, Vo l 71, pp 27–40.
22.
DevendraC.ThomasD.JabbarM. A., and ZerbiniE. (1997), Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop–Animal Systems in Rainfed Agro-ecological Zones of South Asia, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi.
23.
DevendraC.ThomasD.JabbarM. A., and ZerbiniE., (2000), Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-Animal Systems in Agro-ecological Zones of South East Asia, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi.
24.
DevendraC.SevillaC., and PezoD. (2001), ‘Food–feed systems in Asia’, Asian–Australasian Journal of Animal Science, Vol 14, pp 733–745.
25.
EscheverraR. G., ed (1990), ‘Assessing the impact of agricultural research’, Methods for Diagnosing Research System Constraints and Assessing the Impact of Agricultural Research, Vol 11, Assessing the Impacts of Agricultural Research, pp 1–31.
26.
FanS.HazellP., and HaqueT. (2000), ‘Targeting public investments by agroecological zone to achieve growth and poverty alleviation goals in rural India’, Food Policy, Vol 20, pp 411–428.
27.
FanS.ZhangL., and ZhangX. (2000), ‘Growth and poverty in rural China: The role of public investments’, Environment and Production Technology Division Discussion Paper No. 66, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
28.
FosterJ. E.GreerJ., and ThorbeckE. (1984), ‘A class of decomposable poverty measures’, Econometria, Vol 52, pp 761–766.
29.
GryseelsG. (1998), ‘Role of livestock on mixed smallholder farms in the Ethiopian highlands’, PhD dissertation, Agricultural University, Wageningen.
30.
Human Development Report (2001), Oxford University Press, New York.
31.
IFAD (1999), Rural Poverty and Assessment: Asia and the Pacific Region, Asia and Pacific Division Project Management Department, IFAD, Rome.
32.
IFAD (2001), Rural Poverty Report 2001. The Challenge for Ending Rural Poverty, Oxford University Press, New York.
33.
ILRI (2000), Strategy to 2010. Making the Livestock Revolution Work for the Poor, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi.
34.
KumarS., and DeoghareP. R. (2000), ‘Goat rearing and rural poor: A case study for India’, 7th International Congress on Goats, Tours, Vo l 11, pp 554–556.
35.
LaquihonG. A.SuicoG., and LaquihonW. A. (1997), ‘Integration of SALT management of crop livestock in slopeland areas: The case of ‘super’ SALT (sloping agricultural land technology)’, Proceedings International Workshop on Sustainable Crop Livestock Integration in Sloping Lands of Asia, Davao, Philippines (mimeograph).
36.
Livestock in Development (1999), Livestock in Poverty-focused Development, Anthony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham.
37.
LohaniM. N., and PoudelS. (2000), ‘Credit for women in Nepal: A review with reference to goat production’, Proceedings 7th International Congress on Goats, Tours, Vol 11, pp 693–695.
38.
McDowellR. E. (1991), A Partnership for Humans and Animals, Kinnec Publishers, Raleigh, NC.
39.
NitisI. M.LanaK.SukantenW.SuarnaM., and PutraS. (1990), ‘The concept and development of the three strata forage system’, in DevendraC., ed, Shrubs and Tree Fodders for Farm Animals, International Development Research Centre, IDRC-276e, Ottawa, pp 92–102.
40.
ØrskovE. R. (1993), Reality in Development Aid with Emphasis on Livestock, Sdeneprint Ltd, Aberdeen.
41.
PardeyP. G., and BeintemaN. M. (2001), Slow Magic. Agricultural R&D a Century after Mendel, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC (mimeograph).
42.
ParrisT. R. (1992), ‘Socio-economic issues concerning women in animal production’, Proceedings of 6th AAAP Animal Science Congress, Bangkok, Vol 1, pp 247–270.
43.
PCARRD — Philippine Council for Agriculture Research and Resources Development (1994), The Philippine Recommendation for Sustainable Integrated Small Ruminants–Coconuts Systems, Series No 77, Los Baños.
44.
PrucsasriP., and ThanomwongwathanaP. (1995), ‘Integration of beef cattle and baby maize’, in DevendraC. and SevillaC., eds, Crop–Animal Interactions, IRRI Discussion Paper Series 6, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila, pp 63–76.
45.
RangnekarS. D. (1992), ‘Women in livestock production in rural India’, Proceedings of 6th AAAP Animal Science Congress, Bangkok, Vol 1, pp 271–286.
46.
RavallionM., and SenB. (1994), ‘How land based targeting affects rural poverty’, Policy Workshop Paper No. 1270, World Bank, Washington, DC.
47.
RosegrantM. W., and HazellP. B. R. (2000), Transforming the Rural Asian Economy: the Unfinished Revolution, Asian Development Bank, Oxford University Press, Hong Kong.
48.
SaadullahHossain M., and AkhtarS. (1996), ‘Goat raising by women as income generating source in Bangladesh: Case studies’, 14th International Symposium on Sustainable Farming Systems, Colombo (mimeograph).
49.
Safilios-RothschildC. (1983), ‘Women in sheep and goat production and marketing’, FAO Expert Consultation on Women in Food Production, FAO, Rome.
50.
SenA. K. (1973), On Income Inequality, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
51.
SevillaC. C.CarangalV. R., and RanolaR. F. (1995), ‘Development of crop–animal research methodology for lowland rainfed area in Pangasinan, The Philippines’, in: DevendraC. and SevillaC., eds, Crop–Animal Interaction, IRRI Discussion Paper Series 6, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila.
52.
SukriM. I., and DahlanI. (1986), ‘Feedlot and semi-feedlot systems for beef cattle fattening among small holders’, Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference Malaysian Society of Animal Production, Genting Highlands, Malaysia, pp 74–78.
53.
SuriapermanaS.SyamsiahT.FagiA. M., and Atunadja (1998), ‘Optimasi daya dukung lahan dengan sistem minapadi-itik pada lahan dengan sistem minapadi-itik pada sawah beririgasi’, Simposium Tananam Pangan 11, Bogor, Indonesia, pp 21–23.
54.
ThienN.CongQuoc N.TuyenD. Xuan, and SasakiM. (1996), ‘Rice–fish–duck–pig production in Vietnam’, Proceedings of Symposium on Integrated Systems of Animal Production in the Asian Region, Chiba, pp 63–76.
55.
WahyuniS.GatenbyR. M., and NolanM. F. (1992), ‘Women and small ruminant production in Indonesia: A case study in West Java’, Proceedings of 6th AAAP Animal Science Congress, Bangkok, Vol 1, pp 301–312.
56.
WahyuniS.GaylordM., and KnipscheerH. C. (1985), ‘Women's decision making role in small ruminant production: The conflicting view of husbands and wives’, Small Ruminant-Coordinated Research Support Project Working Paper No. 43, Bogor, Indonesia.
