Peri-urban sheep production in West Africa: Do smallholders benefit from proximity of the urban centres?

Economic decline accompanied by high population growth rates in sub-Saharan African cities has led to an increase in the importance of small-scale agriculture as a survival strategy. These crop or livestock producers should benefit from the urban infrastructure by easier access to inputs and services. This assumption was tested for sheep keeping in Maroua, Cameroon. An intensive survey of 38 urban and peri-urban flocks conducted between November 1994 and March 1995 revealed that management practices and flock productivity differed little from those in rural areas. No significant influence of more intensive management practices on flock productivity was found. A parallel study explored the availability and adequacy of livestock services for urban sheep producers and the effect of these on animal productivity. The main areas of livestock services, i.e. veterinary services, consultation, extension and supply of inputs, were provided by the nine organisations offering livestock services in Maroua. However, the focus of the organisations was on rural cattle rearing and urban sheep producers gained little from the existing knowledge and competence. Among the services used by the 58 sheep owners interviewed in the second study, ‘informal contact with a veterinarian’ was the only factor showing a significant, albeit weak, effect on flock productivity. Nevertheless, flock productivity increased with the frequency of use of most services. In order to fully realize the potential benefits from urban infrastructure, small-scale sheep production needs to be formally accepted as an economic activity and supported by adequate services and an institutional environment.