Elevation |
Cattle |
Plant Growing Period |
Rainfall |
The
background to current concern for the loss of biological diversity and the need to
strengthen capacity for management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) in the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is outlined.
Regional
environmental information and national livestock statistics are briefly reviewed. Digital
surfaces for terrain, rainfall, temperature, vegetation, plant growing period, people,
cattle and tsetse are presented as examples of what might be included in a regional
livestock and environment Geographical Information System and knowledge base for southern
Africa.
Development
of such a knowledge base should integrate and update information currently available
through FAO’s Regional Remote Sensing Project (RRSP, 1998); Domestic Animal Diversity
Information System (DAD-IS); Programme Against Animal Trypanosomosis Information System
(PAAT-IS, 1999); and the South African Agricultural Research Council.
A
series of inter-related preparatory activities and pilot studies for the assessment of
farm animal genetic resources in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, were identified
in close collaboration with national FAnGR co-ordinators and other stakeholders, and are
presented in outline logical framework format.
The
four country programmes of enabling activities are similar in content and call for the
consolidation of existing knowledge and mobilisation of national expertise. Common
components include: reviews of formal and informal literature; guides to the
identification of livestock breeds; pilot field surveys; and recommendations for
conducting a national assessment of farm animal genetic resources.
Pilot
field surveys should be carried out, both, to test modifications to existing methods of
livestock information collection to include breed data; and to assess household livestock
resources (especially small ruminants, pigs, poultry and any other domesticates), animal
husbandry practices and livestock marketing (including the role of women) in communal
areas.
The
combined cost of national enabling activities for FAnGR assessment is estimated at
US$248,000 (US$62,000 per country). A further provisional sum of US$113,000 is proposed
for regional and international support. The total cost of these proposals is US361,000.
Designated
FAnGR focal points, host institutions, stakeholders, potential collaborators, FAnGR
activities, GIS utilisation and key informants are noted for future reference.
Considerable
potential exists for synergy and co-operation between national programmes. It is envisaged
that the forthcoming FAO/UNDP project for Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources in
the SADC region will be responsible for initiating and co-ordinating activities.
