Studies

PRINT will firstly offer funds for national and regional studies on topics as follows:

National studies

• Studies on Livestock populations:
• Studies on Livestock Census in different environments: applying and comparing appropriate methods, based on adapted sampling techniques (cluster, strata, spatial..), and in a variety of livestock production and socio-economic contexts (rural commercial, rural communal, periurban).
• Studies for capturing dynamic demographic parameters of livestock population (fertility, fecundity, offtake, growth rates..) at various pertinent scales (herd, village, zone, region or nation).

The outputs of the studies would represent appropriate quality parameters (inputs) to existing models or tools to study livestock production. Such tools are already available; e.g. LPDS Livestock Development Planning System from the FAO, or the static and dynamic herd model component of DAMS Data Analysis and Modelization System of the World Bank. To capture the diversity of the situation within SADC, it is recommended that studies be implemented in different benchmarks within SADC. Some member states have already expressed their interest for such topics, as it was highlighted in the analysis of results from the call for concept notes. These studies will be carried out in priority in their territory.

• Studies on Marketing chains of LS (live animals) and of LS products
• Studies on the characterization and modelling of some important commodity chains in the livestock sector (i.e. with reference to the commodity chain analysis, or filière approach)

A full or partial characterization of a filière in the livestock sector is meant at describing the distribution of added value along the chain from production to consumption, the functioning of the chain (price construction, interaction between stakeholders etc..), the competitiveness of the chain as compared to the international environment, its dynamics (in particular the regulations that apply, and the characteristics of mutual management adopted by private and public sector), the relations established with other commodities (e.g. with animal feeds sector, or between various types of commodities like red and white meats), and the contribution of commodity chains to global development of the agricultural sector. These approaches will be complemented by the regional studies.

The studies will help to collect pertinent data and information to be incorporated into LIMS in its trade and marketing component. Moreover it will also help to disseminate academic and appropriate methods for collecting quality data on commodity chains, in order to better characterize them and guide policy makers. Commodity chain analyses are complementary to policy analysis, to farming systems analysis, or analysis of consumption patterns. Studies will help to eventually develop and design sustainable and appropriate Monitoring and Information Systems, to report continuously on the functioning and the performance of commodity chains in the LS sector.

Achievements