Small ruminant livestock marketing in The Gambia: a socio-economic perspective

 

Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor

 

International Trypanotolerance Centre, PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia
manchrizzo@hotmail.com

 

 

Abstract

 

In all market sites surveyed, rams consistently fetched higher prices than other small ruminants. Female Djallonke sheep and female West African Dwarf (WAD) goats attract similar prices, while West African Dwarf bucks were least priced.

 

The prices of these ruminants are not determined by weight, rather by the general appearance of the animal, market site and season of the year. There are no gradings done and sale is by head count. The prices of livestock are lowest around June and reach the highest point between October and January. A price differential exists between markets in different sites, prices are higher in sites located along the highway and closer to urban and peri-urban settlements.

 

More rams (Sahelian and Djallonke) were brought for sale in most sites in the survey area, on the other hand there were more West African Dwarf female goats than bucks found in the survey sites. Sahelian livestock are more predominant in Wassu than in other surveyed market sites in the country.

 

Key words: Goats, marketing, sheep

 

 

Introduction

 

The importance of livestock and their contribution to human welfare and improved agriculture is recognised (Wilson 1995). They contribute about 25% of the agricultural gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa, and even exceed this value in some West African countries (ILCA 1993). The contribution of livestock to the gross domestic product of The Gambia increased from 18.1 million dalasis (3.8%) in 1982/83 to 27.2 million dalasis (4.6%) in 1993/94 (CSO 2000). A report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO 1997) indicates that in The Gambia, livestock contributed approximately 24% of the agricultural gross domestic product, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3.3%.

 

Sheep and goats are widely distributed in Africa, and though there are conflicting figures as to the numbers available, their importance especially to resource poor farmers has been well documented (Devendra 1985; Nuru 1987; Itty 1997; Peacock 1995). Nuru (1987) estimates that 171 million sheep and 144.7 million goats are in Africa, representing 28.7% and 20.2% respectively of the total population of ruminant livestock in the tropics and subtropics. The domestic ruminant population in sub-Saharan Africa as estimated by Winrock International (1992) consists of 127 million sheep and 147 million goats and make up 26% of the world's small ruminant population.

 

In The Gambia, small ruminant ownership is widespread among the rural populace with little variation between ethnic groups or geographical areas (Greenwood and Milineaux 1989), and there are more owners of sheep and goats than other livestock types (Nwafor 2002). A livestock census by the Department of Livestock Services, The Gambia in 1993 reported 370,000 small ruminants in the country (DLS / ITC 1993).

 

There is an increasingly renewed interest in The Gambia, as in other countries in the sub Saharan region; in smallholder sheep and goat production (Itty et al 1997). This has been attributed to a strong consumer preference as shown by the increase in small ruminant slaughter and consumption over the past two decades (Seyoum 1992), and an increasing total and urban population with an annual growth rate of 3.7% and 6% respectively (World Bank 1995). The agriculture census of 2001 / 2002 in The Gambia shows an estimated total of 357,000 small ruminants made up of 129,000 sheep and 228,000 goats; a decrease from the 1993 livestock figures (DOP/DOSA 2002).

 

Livestock ownership for the average rural farmer, with very few investment alternatives is a store of wealth and provides an effective hedge against inflation. Profits from agricultural or non-farm activities are used for the purchase of livestock (Itty et al 1997).

 

The role of small ruminants in general is extremely important within most farming systems, s they have the potential of accumulating capital (Djajanegara et al 1996). Small ruminants are relatively easy to own by resource poor farmers especially women; the animals spread the risk inherent in agricultural production and are often used as a first step up and out of poverty; they reproduce very fast and are raised in a wide range of production systems (Peacock 1995).

 

Raising small ruminants is regarded as relatively easy with minimal inputs and low maintenance costs coupled with their ability to maximise available feed resources. In most cases it is basically a secondary activity that employs low levels of family resources. Devendra (1985) postulates that interest in the value of small ruminants as domestic livestock is widespread. This is stimulated by a wide recognition of their role in food production, economic importance in the tropics and sub tropics where they are concentrated and their constituting an important component of traditional farming systems.

 

 

Current Livestock figures

 

On a yearly comparative basis, the population of small ruminants in The Gambia have been on the decline as compared to cattle with increasing numbers (see Table 1). In the year 1992 there were 342,986 cattle, 159,071 sheep and 185,153 goats estimated to be in The Gambia. Conversely in the year 2000, estimates were 364,113 cattle, 105,531 sheep and 145,112 goats.

Prices of all categories of livestock have been on the increase; the price of small ruminants has increased by more than 200% in a ten year period spanning 1985-1995 (see Table 2).

Available figures also indicate an increasing number of animals slaughtered in the public abattoir (see Table 3) especially goats, and agrees with the observation by Devendra (1987) that the demand for goat meat is in excess of supply. The number of sheep however appears constant, an indication that most sheep slaughters are for home consumption.

 

Government Policies

 

The government of The Gambia has taken some policy decisions affecting the livestock sub-sector. These decisions have been in line with prevailing world economic trends, encouraging open markets and structural adjustment programmes especially in developing economies.

 

The policy objectives for the livestock sub-sector include: diversification of the sub-sector by broadening the number of species, variety of breed and by-product; improved traditional production system and enhanced food security and self sufficiency goals. It also include the development of the sub-sector to enhance its ability to generate foreign earnings and provide employment thereby improving living standards; it also hopes to ensure efficiency and balance between livestock numbers and the environment (Gambia livestock review 1991).

 

Strategies to achieve the above objectives include the continued exploitation of highly productive and adapted existing species, and the introduction of exotic breeds to ensure diversification; improvement of the traditional production systems through the promotion of fattening schemes, artificial insemination programmes and introduction of appropriate livestock production schemes. Other strategies include the promotion of regional livestock trade and encouraging the participation of financial institutions in the development of the sub-sector; involvement of livestock professionals in private sector activities related to the development of the industry and the improvement of linkages between the traditional and modern sectors to enhance integration.

 

Some economic programmes undertaken by the Gambian government over the past years include the Five-Year Development programmes launched in 1975-1980 and 1981-1986; the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) in1985, the Programme for Sustained Development (PSD) in 1989 and the recently introduced Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in 2002.

 

Specific livestock development projects undertaken by the government in conjunction with development aid agencies over the years include; the Rangeland and Water Development project (Gam/86/006), Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign project (1990), Development of Sheep and Goat Production (Gam/87/004) among others. These projects were meant to arrest acute problems affecting livestock development in certain areas, development of trypanotolerant small ruminants, promote livestock productivity thereby increasing food self-sufficiency and quality of life of the rural populace.

 

Official government policy as reported by Agyemang et al (1997) is directed towards the maintenance of the national herd population instead of growth; though indications of a persistently low off-take rate especially for cattle might undermine this policy.

 

 

Production and Marketing Constraints

 

Small ruminant livestock production in the Gambia is described as mainly traditional and extensive (Osaer and Goosens 1999) characterized by minimal inputs, with greater emphasis on head count than individual productivity. Various factors are identified as constraints to increased livestock production and include biological, economic and cultural. Biological constraints to increased production include high disease prevalence, mortality and morbidity, feed conversion inefficiency and inadequate quality feeds. The inability to commit greater resources into production and its subsistent nature, combined with the incidence of holding livestock as a store of wealth, have been identified as the economic and cultural constraints to increased production.

 

As a result of the livestock production system, most farmers keep their livestock till the need for cash arises, and when this happens the animals are taken to the local markets (lumo) where they are sold to traders and their agents. Results from a nationwide questionnaire survey by the author indicated that about 94% of respondents sold their small ruminant animal because of urgent cash need. The animals are usually sold during the period between planting and harvesting in order to raise cash to buy food for the family (Agyemang et al 1997). This implies that the animals are sold in their present condition, and the price is determined by the interaction between the farmer and buyers. The traders in turn sell these animals to butchers or keep them until prices are more favourable. These traders transport livestock purchased from lumos located in the rural areas, to the urban markets where they fetch higher prices for them.

 

 

Price Fluctuations

 

Livestock prices in The Gambia have been on the rise especially in the past few years (see figure 1), this has been attributed to various factors including the decline in the value of the national currency (Dalasis).

Figure 1. Price change for small ruminant livestock (Nominal values)

Source : DOP / DOSA, DLS & ITC survey.

 

The exchange rate of the Dalasis was 9.5 to US$1 in 1995, but valued at more than 19.20 to the US Dollar in 2002 (Central Bank 2003). This exchange rate changes has implications for prices of basic inputs such as drugs, and the general inflationary trend.

 

Market Survey and Price Variations

 

In an on-going livestock market survey, prices and live-weightsof small ruminants sold in various markets were observed. Fifty eight percent of the animals were goats and 42% sheep; 51.1% were males and females 48.9%. The breeds were mainly West African Dwarf (56.7%), Djallonke (35.3%) and Sahelian (8%).

 

The price of livestock is subject to variations through the year. It is high during post harvest and festive seasons, and low during the cropping and pre-harvest periods (see Figure 2 and Table 4).

Figure 2. Monthly Price Variation of sheep

Source: ITC market survey in 2001

 

 

Figure 3. Price difference between Kombos and Provincial markets (lumos) in 1998
Source: DLS market survey.

 

Rams fetch higher prices than the rest, while male goats attract the least price.

 

Itty et al (1997) reports that during the months prior to religious ceremonies, the sale price of male sheep was 35% higher than during the rest of the year; and a similar difference was also recorded for females. The rise in price of the males had a significant effect on female prices. This increase in prices has also been linked to increased cash availability from the crop harvest, during which time farmers had money and many transactions took place. Sixty percent of respondentx in a survey by the author, identified post harvest period as the time they purchased livestock. During this time, most farmers and other livestock owners tend to add more animals to their existing flock. Other reasons for increased transactions during this period include social and religious activities such as marriage, naming ceremonies, charity and other related events. From the survey, 51.2% of respondents purchased small ruminants for social and religious reasons while 40.5% wanted to increase their flock sizes. Only seven percent purchased livestock due to the availability of cash.

 

Effect of Location on Price

 

The location of the weekly markets also has an observed effect on the sale prices of livestock (see Figures 3 and 4). Prices are lower in markets located in distant areas than those located close to urban and semi-urban settlements. Livestock prices were constantly higher in Sare Bojo and lower in Wassu for the year. Sare Bojo is located mid-way on the highway between Bansang and Basse (peri-urban centres); while Wassu is located off the highway. Small ruminants and other livestock fetch higher prices in the Kombos (urban centre) than in all other markets located in the provinces.

Figure 4. Difference in Price of Djallonke Ram at provincial survey markets in 2001
Source: ITC market survey.

 

In all the markets, livestock is sold by general appearance and not by weight as animals of the same weight are likely to attract different prices. This confirms an FAO (1995) report that small ruminants are not graded, but sold by head count in the markets.

 

Breed types availability, exchange and gifts.

 

Djallonke sheep and West African Dwarf goats were commonplace in all the survey markets, while Sahelian livestock (sheep and goats) are more available in Wassu than in other market sites such as Sami, Brikamaba, and Sare Ngai in the provincial areas. This is presumably because Wassu is closer to the northern boundaries of Senegal where there is a predominance of this breed.

 

Eighty percent of the Sahelian livestock in the survey markets were sheep, with a mean weight of 33.3kg and average price of D677, while Sahelian goats had a mean weight of 30.9 kg and average price of D532. There were more Sahelian male animals (79.8%) than females (20.2%), also there were more Djallonke rams than ewes. On the contrary, there were more West African Dwarf female goats than males as seen from figure 5.

Figure 5.  Classification of animals in survey by breed and sex.

 

Livestock exchange between owners of different livestock type is also a common practice. In this case, it is a swap especially among villagers or relatives to acquire other livestock types. Cattle owners may want to have increased numbers of small ruminants or vice versa. In most cases, however, farmers with increasing numbers of small ruminants exchange them for cattle. The ratio differs and depends on factors such as animal type involved. A common practice is to exchange between 5 - 7 small ruminants for a cow. At least 55% of questionnaire respondents had obtained a cow by exchanging small ruminants, while 30% had obtained a bull. Respondents also obtained other animal types as seen from figure 6.

Figure 6. Livestock type obtained from exchange by respondents.
Source: Authors questionnaire survey in 2003.

 

Small ruminants are also given as gifts to relatives and friends, at least 30% of respondents in a country wide survey had given a sheep or goat as gift. These gifts are usually given for social functions and religious charity, some are given to relatives and other less able members of the family to enable them own and keep livestock in order to improve their livelihood sources. Most animals given as gifts were for charity, marriage, funerals and naming ceremonies.

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

The efforts of Lamin Darboe, Modu Gaye and Jacques Somda, staff of the International Trypanotolerance Centre are acknowledged. Many thanks to Ibu Drammeh of the Department of Livestock Services (Abuko). The Director General of ITC and the Belgian government funding of the small ruminants unit of ITC is worthy of mention.

 

 

References

 

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