Livestock and regional market in the Sahel and West Africa:potentials and challenges

Abstract

This book is a result of a joint ECOWAS, SWAC and OECD initiative, in partnership with CILSS, ROPPA and UEMOA, to analyse the potential of livestock rearing for Sahel and West Africa with a view towards fostering decision-making so as to strengthen the regional economy and West African populations' livelihoods. Its overall objective is to obtain a clearer picture of the future of the livestock sector and its contribution to the regional economy. The potentials and challenges for livestock in West Africa initiative is intended as a contribution to implement an approach ensuring food sovereignty by reducing dependence on imports for food security, and to reduce poverty. To achieve these objectives, the study focused its analysis on issues of regional importance for the SWA countries, grouping the issues around main concerns, viz. how to capitalise on the existing potential for the supply or production of animal; products to stimulate a regional market in such products based on complementarities between zones; and through an analysis of the potential and the constraints and challenges facing the livestock sector in the region. Analysis of the stakes and specific challenges linked to transhumant pastoralism; identification of relevant elements and prospects for the future of the livestock; and the sector in terms of its contribution to poverty reduction, improvement in people's living conditions, food security etc. that could be used in decision-making at the regional and national levels.