Project Title: Lao PDR - Participatory Livestock Development Project
Description: Stirling Thorne Associates provided specialist inputs in pig managment to this ADB PPTA team. Specifically, the team was responsible for analysing technical, institutional, and regulatory issues of livestock development in Lao PDR with a view to formulating an investment package that would: (i) reduce mortality and improve productivity of livestock production in the country (ii) expand and improve marketing opportunities for livestock of smallholders (iii) promote the development of private service providers in essential areas of livestock production and marketing system. A number of key constraints to improved productivity of pig production systems was identified during the study. These included serious constraints related to animal health that will need to be addressed before farmers are likely to risk investing in interventions aimed at the improvement of pig management practices. Constraints related to feeding and nutrition appeared to be most limiting to the achievement of economically acceptable levels of production from the small-holder pig production systems. Achieving reasonable levels of dietary protein would seem to be particularly difficult using the range of feeds currently available in villages. However, some promising interventions related to the provision of feeds of higher protein and mineral / vitamin contents do exist and could be promoted by the Project. Another key constraint is the lack of information about effective management practices, in particular feeding and breeding practices. Considerable benefits could be realised by improving the delivery of information. In particular, promoting the use of more dynamic tools for planning activities - such as feeding strategies that are not effectively addressed by existing static extension materials - is likely to be highly beneficial.
Partners: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, International Livestock Research Institute
Funded by: Asian Development Bank.
Status: Completed, December 2004.
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