Livelihood Activities and the Role of Livestock in Smallholder Farming Communities of Southern Zambia

Gelson Tembo, Alice Tembo, Fusya Goma, Evans Kapekele, Jairos Sambo

Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Lusaka, Zambia.
Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development, Luanshya, Zambia.
Veterinary Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Lusaka, Zambia.

DOI: 10.4236/jss.2014.24033                

Abstract

This study represents one of the first comprehensive mixed-methods studies on the livelihood activities and the position of livestock in the hierarchy of these activities among households in livestock-rearing communities of southern Zambia. The results identify livestock as the most important source of income and the second most important source of livelihood in general. Seasonality analysis also shows that livestock is very important in mitigating against hunger during lean periods between November and March. The study also identifies the richer households as the ones that benefit the most from livestock as a source of income. Policy and other interventions need to recognize not only the relative standing of livestock in these communities but also the fact that the livestock sub-sector is not the same to all rural households.

Keywords

Livestock; Livelihoods; Income; Shocks; Mixed-Methods; Zambia

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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