Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts on Rural Development Programs on Livestock Sector in Blue Nile and Sennar States Sudan.

Abstract

Livestock play multiple roles in the livelihoods of people in developing communities, especially the poor. They provide food and nutrition, work, economic and social status, and ensure environmental sustainability. Unfortunately Sudan livestock sector in general is poorly organized and specifically small ruminant (sheep and goats). The owners are only smallholders and resource poor; because of this it is difficult if not impossible for them to access credit for increasing their income and herd size. This study is carried out to assess the impact of the Improving Livestock Production and Marketing Project (ILPMP) (restocking sub-project and rehabilitation of livestock markets) which gave smallholder livestock farmers access to credit in order to improve their incomes and livestock marketing. A desk study was first done to review literature then a field survey was conducted to collect the primary data using a questionnaire, interviews and group discussion. Data were collected from the project beneficiaries, non-beneficiaries and livestock markets intermediators. ILPMP staff monitoring and evaluation unit, and LIUs group leaders were interviewed and communities' group discussion was undertaken. The research revealed that, the project activities on target rural communities have great social and economic impacts. Economically there was increase in the beneficiaries' income; increase in herd size and some of beneficiaries improved their houses. Socially there was communication and social relationship, education and jobs creation and some of beneficiaries get married. Restocking project has great impacts on improving communities livelihood and surrounding environments through other project activities like water subprojects which provide the areas by safe drinking water, and xiii reduced costs of water for livestock and household use, also improving of education and health. The rehabilitation of livestock markets project attracted the traders, and helped in the recovery of the livestock trade and increased livestock export rates, in addition to free access to market price information through livestock markets database. Also the rehabilitation of livestock markets lead to the organization of the livestock market regulations and help on the development of the surrounding area. The research revealed that, the marketing system is dominated by middlemen and the livestock chain is affected by the livestock market intermediators. This affected the marketing channels and lead to increasing livestock prices. The study concluded that the programs launched by the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Rangelands (MoLFR) are commendable and worthwhile for the economic, social and environmental impacts at the individual, household and community levels. Finally, this study recommended the need for extending of rural development programs to involve more rural and poorest communities in the country. More field training and raising of awareness to improve the skills of the rural communities in the target area especially on animal production, animal health and marketing system. This will help in achieving rural development objectives. There is need to link the training to the opened credit opportunities for poor-resource households. MoLFR should consider the challenges in the marketing system specifically in market management to make these rehabilitated markets more attractive to producers. Livestock market’ management and market' boards should work to decrease the number of intermediators involved in livestock marketing for the benefit of the primary producers. Encouragement of youth and women to enter livestock trade business and access to loans for livestock dealers. MoLFR together xiv with the States and localities should act to finalize livestock export infrastructure. The program should be based on participatory approaches where the beneficiaries should participate in the project cycle.