ECOWAS experts discuss livestock development in West Africa

The action plan seeks the transformation and economic value addition to the cattle, meat and dairy sector in order to provide sustainable food security, reduce poverty and provide decent income for those working in the sector while preserving the natural resources.

The experts' validation meeting is in response to a mandate to the ECOWAS Commission by regional ministers responsible for livestock development and trade to draw up a specific strategy for the development of livestock farming as part of the framework for the implementation of the ECOWAS agricultural policy (ECOWAP), adopted in January 2005.

Action plan for the development and transformation

The commission was also requested to carry out the work plan schedules, adopted by the ministers in charge of livestock farming, as an action plan for the development and transformation of livestock farming in the region.

The strategic orientations of the ministerial request, regarded as advocating the promotion of a regional vision of livestock farming, is based on certain recommendations including the need for capacity building of national and regional professional bodies through networking, development of regional dairy organisations and professionals in the sector as well as institutional support for improved management and governance.

They also include fast-tracking the harmonisation of regulations in order to facilitate trade in cattle and animal products, guarantee animal health, sanitary security of food products of animal origin, veterinary products and animal genetic resources.

Other recommendations justifying the ministerial mandate include:

• Strengthening public veterinary services for the proper accomplishment of their regulatory mission and also support for the development of private veterinary services;
  
• Support for the production, gradual processing and intensification of livestock farming systems, including semi-urban production, through the improvement of feeds, the health and the breeding of West African domestic animals;
  
• Promoting the agro-food processing of animal products and by-products in the region through a favourable economic environment which encourages research, training on best practices and the standardisation of livestock products;
  
• Support for the circulation of more information on markets and strengthening structures for the collection and management of information of market and livestock statistics; as well as
  
• Strengthening research and training based on indigenous and modern practices of regional livestock farming, especially the impact of national and regional policies on natural and social changes in the livestock sector as well as all related institutions in West Africa.

Participants at the experts meeting, which precedes that of ministers in charge of livestock farming, trade and security scheduled for Thursday, 10 March 2011, also in Bamako, are drawn from relevant ministries and agencies in member states, non-governmental organisations, the African Union International Bureau of Animal Resources, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation as well as the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE).