Small Livestock

Component Objective: To develop & disseminate technologies to improve low input management systems for pigs and poultry. Raising pigs is very important for low income households and provides one of the few means of 'savings'

Increased production of pigs, chickens and ducks is important for income for rural households, and also has potential to combat specific nutritional problems. Eggs, in particular, make a convenient and healthy supplement to infant’ diets and this could be a useful adjunct to foods where there are weaning problems, for instance, the highlands of Malaita. Livestock are very important forms of ‘natural capital’ that allow households to up an asset for later sale. Pigs in particular play a very strong role in allowing households to meet social obligations and to pay for things such as school fees.  Livestock are often raised and cared for by women and in the most remote areas are one of the few options to earn income.

KGA’s work on livestock in recent years has paid dividends. There has been a good response to practical farmer-to-farmer training on improved management of poultry and pigs, involvement of young people raising livestock as a specialised rural livelihood, and to the results generated from research on improved feeding regimes, management of poultry and pigs, and improved breeds. All these strategies need to continue.

KGA trains farmers in simple methods of feed mixing using locally sourced ingredients or ingredients that farmers can grow themselves. The results to date are promising.

Planned outputs

Michael Qwanafia is the manager of KGA’s livestock services.

Hilda Karani is KGAs Poultry Technician and is engaged in research into local sources poultry feed and managment methods and carries out farmer training at the Burns Creek Centre.