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LEAGUE FOR PASTORAL PEOPLES AND ENDOGENOUS LIVESTOCK
DEVELOPMENT
Liga für Hirtenvölker und nachhaltige
Viehwirtschaft e.V.
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Annual Report 2004
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People-centred livestock
development:
Putting the livestock keeper first[1]
by Evelyn Mathias and Ilse
Köhler-Rollefson
The consumption of meat and milk in developing countries
is rising rapidly, and is expected to double in the next two decades. This is
triggering a “Livestock Revolution”: industrial livestock production is
expanding into the South. Scientists stress that poor livestock keepers can
also benefit from the rising demand – if the right measures support them. But
what are the right measures, given that the benefits of livestock projects have
so far mostly bypassed the poor?
Past projects commonly focused on raising animal
productivity and optimizing the output of livestock products. Studies have
demonstrated that such efforts did not bring the expected positive results on
the economic situation of poor and marginalized livestock keepers. Take the
example of dairy development: for many decades, livestock projects have
fostered crossbreeding local with exotic cattle to improve their dairy performance.
A study in Kenya
found that this approach had positive impacts on the country’s economy and
society’s welfare but improved farm performance little, especially among
livestock keepers unable to buy the necessary inputs.
What can we learn from past approaches?
One study on the impacts of livestock development
projects concludes that it is crucial to reform the institutional context in
which livestock services are delivered if development is to help the poor. Another
study suggests that the best way to support poor livestock keepers is by helping
them build strong associations and argue for their rights. Policy and education
are further important aspects to tackle.
Redirecting the focus from livestock to people
People-centred livestock development (PCLD) focuses on
livestock keepers – men, women and children – rather than on improving
livestock performance per se. The explicit recognition of the diverse cultural,
social and ecological environments of livestock keepers is a key criterion. By
facilitating development that the people themselves see fit, and by building on
their strengths and specialities, PCLD strives to empower people and help them
adapt their livestock keeping and livelihood strategies to the changing times.
Methodologically, PCLD seeks to combine the use of local
and outside knowledge, drawing on various field-tested methodologies and
approaches developed since the 1970s. Examples are participatory appraisal
methods, the use of indigenous knowledge, participatory technology development,
ethnoveterinary medicine, and many more. PCLD also recognizes that for
pastoralists and small farmers, livestock fulfils multiple functions.
Production is only one of them. Other uses include keeping an animal for
draught and manure, as a living cash reserve and for social and cultural reasons.
PCLD in action
Livestock keepers’ views on what is needed often differ
from those of scientists and development professionals. For example,
smallholders in India
regarded the removal of constraints to feed and fodder availability and the
improvement of management as more crucial than breed improvement. In such a
case, a people-centred project would help farmers compile information on
available feeds and fodder plants and their qualities, considering both local
and commercial resources. This would build up a “menu” from which each family
can choose the combination most adequate to their farm. The project may also
help farmers to organize themselves to lobby to convince policy makers and
scientists of the need to change how livestock services operate. In general,
strengthening the resilience of livestock keepers is a key element of PCLD.
Further examples of PCLD measures include linking people
to markets; assisting them to identify and explore speciality niches;
convincing universities and other educational institutions to include
information on traditional knowledge and livestock systems into their
curricula; and lobbying for rights such as access to water, grazing lands, and
appropriate education.
In short, PCLD is not a new method. It is an umbrella for
people-oriented approaches. It reminds us that livestock development needs to
put the livestock keepers first, and build on their ideas and experiences. The
goal is economic improvement on the basis of sociological and ecologically
responsible development.
Recognizing, not romanticizing, indigenous
knowledge
As with any approach, the application of PCLD has its
limitations and drawbacks. People may opt for a development path that brings
short-term returns rather than long-term sustainability. Not all traditional
practices work, and some can be detrimental. Stringent cultural norms may
prevent a society from taking the necessary steps to adapt to new realities.
PCLD workers must not romanticize livestock keepers’ knowledge, but should try
to understand it, while maintaining a critical distance. Only this way can
outsiders help pastoralists, small farmers, and landless livestock keepers
choose the best from their own resources and outside options.
Networking on PCLD
In June 2003 the League started an informal discussion
group on endogenous livestock development (ELD).[2] The group has expanded to
more than 25 international livestock specialists. Members share the concern
that despite renewed interest in livestock, the international development
debate does not seem to lead to innovative approaches for livestock
development.
The ELD Group’s goal is to further the recognition and
application of PCLD through linking up with other like-minded organizations and
facilitating an information exchange among
all interested. Means include informal networking, the ELDev mailing list (see
below) and the People and Livestock
newsletter. A core group meets about twice a year, and meetings are open to
all. To enable partners from the South to participate, meetings take advantage
of the presence of international participants in Germany whenever possible.[3]
International lobbying and
advocacy
At the international level, LPP continued to advocate for
‘Livestock Keepers´ Rights’ and for stronger integration of pastoralists and
smallholders in efforts to conserve indigenous breeds.
3rd Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic
Resources (ITWG-AnGR)
Rome,
30 March–2 April 2004
This was anticipated to be a key event on the long road in
realizing internationally recognized ‘Livestock Keepers’ Rights’. Ilse Köhler-Rollefson and Evelyn Mathias of LPP, Thomas Loquang of the
Karamoja Initiative for Sustainable Peace, Uganda, and Jacob Wanyama
of ITDG-EA participated in the name of LPP. Together with Patrick Mulvany
of ITDG headquarters, they organized a side event ‘Livestock Keepers’ Rights: A prerequisite for Global Sustainable
Management of Animal Genetic Resources.’
In preparation of this event, LPP and ITDG
had compiled a leaflet ‘Indigenous Knowledge
about Animal Breeding, Traditional Communities and the State of the World
Report.’ The leaflet was circulated to all national coordinators and also
distributed during the session. Several countries, including Botswana, Uganda,
and Kenya
raised their voice for starting negotiations towards an International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources, causing a stir and
a temporary interruption of the proceedings. The chair of the session then
decided that such a decision would have to be deferred to the 10th
Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)
scheduled for November 2004.
Indigenous knowledge about
animal breeding, traditional communities and the State of the World Report:
www.pastoralpeoples.org/docs/ik_breeding.pdf
Dialogue between cultures and civilizations:
Present state and perspectives of nomadism in a globalizing world – An
international conference
Ulaanbataar, 9–14 August 2004
This conference was organized by the Mongolian
National University and included a three-day field trip to the Kar-khorin
area. In order to inform and raise the awareness of scientists, especially anthropologists,
about the issue of ‘Livestock keeper’ rights’, Ilse Köhler-Rollefson presented
a paper entitled Pastoral nomads and
their stake in an international treaty on animal genetic resources (with
Jacob Wanyama and Evelyn Mathias). Together with Hanwant Rathore,
she presented a paper on The current
dilemma and future perspectives of the Raika in India.
At the invitation of the New Zealand Nature Institute, Ilse and Hanwant visited communities
in the Southern Gobi to advise on how to go
about a community-based project for sustainably managing the Bactrian camel.
10th Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)
Rome, 8–12 November 2004
With the support of LPP, LIFE
Network members Thomas Loquang
(Karamoja Initiative for Sustainable Peace, Uganda) and Jacob Wanyama
(ITDG-EA) participated in the session and in discussions of the African Group.
Together with Patrick
Mulvany of ITDG Headquarters, they
gave presentations during the session, raising the issue of livestock keepers’
rights and providing suggestions for activities essential to enable livestock
keepers to continue their important role as stewards of local breeds.
Prior to the event, LPP prepared the booklet Livestock
Keepers’ Rights: Conserving Breeds, Supporting Livelihoods and sent it
to some 250 government representatives to draw their attention to the
importance of a legal framework and livestock keepers’ rights for the conservation
of animal genetic resources.
Livestock Keepers’ Rights booklet: www.pastoralpeoples.org/docs/livestockkeepersrights1.pdf.
The LIFE
Project
In January 2004, LPP’s Misereor-supported LIFE project went into its second phase. The
project’s goal is to further the conservation of local livestock breeds in and
through communities, to improve the livelihoods of the breeders and keepers.
Project components include networking, information dissemination, advisory
services, training and advocacy. Evelyn Mathias
coordinates the networking and publishes People and Livestock newsletter.
Issue 1 (November 2004) focused on threats to free access to animal genetic
resources. The newsletter is distributed electronically.
The LIFE
website has been redesigned by Paul
Mundy. It contains news,
information and publications about people-centred livestock development. LIFE Network member Peter Hofs
kindly transferred rights to the lifeinitiative.net domain to LPP.
Another activity under LIFE
is the Endogenous Livestock Development Mailing List (ELDev)
established in October 2004 and officially opened in January 2005. It evolved
from the Ethnoveterinary Mailing List that Evelyn Mathias
had founded in 1999 and moderated in collaboration with an international team.
See box on the right for more information on ELDev.
LIFE’s
advisory and advocacy activities have been described in the section above on International lobbying and advocacy.
LIFE website: http://lifeinitiative.net/
People and Livestock newsletter, issue 1: www.lifeinitiative.net/docs/PALIssue1Nov04.pdf
People-centred livestock development
In June, Evelyn Mathias organized
the second meeting of the Endogenous
Livestock Development Group (ELD Group) in Bergisch Gladbach.
At the meeting Ilse
Köhler-Rollefson presented a
discussion paper Endogenous versus
globalized: An alternative vision of livestock development for the poor.
The meeting’s discussions provided the basis for a concept note on endogenous
livestock development that was subsequently developed by Katrien van’t Hooft
and other group members.
Due to the generous sponsorship by Bettina Haas,
it was possible to initiate a pilot study of projects that conform to the
criteria for endogenous livestock development. This study is conducted by Ellen Geerlings.
Evelyn and Ellen also participated in the third ELD meeting that
took place November 5 in the Netherlands.
Agromisa and LPP co-sponsored the participation of Jacob Wanyama
of ITDG Kenya.
Projects and workshops in South
Asia
In South Asia, our
activities continue to be undertaken in close cooperation with Lokhit
Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS) and other partner organizations.
Indian pastoralist network meeting
Sadri,
India, 22–23
March 2004
Hedy Bühlmann and Ilse
Köhler-Rollefson participated as
resource persons in the Indian Pastoralists Network Meeting that was organized
by the Indian NGO SEVA and hosted by LPPS in Sadri, Rajasthan. The purpose of
this meeting was to initiate and structure a formal network that can lobby for
the rights of Indian pastoralists. Eight NGOs and pastoral associations from
throughout India,
as well as the World Herders Council attended.
Recovering pasture opportunities for camels: Identifying the options –
Camel breeders workshop
Sadri,
India, 17–19
November 2004
2004 was designated by our partner Lokhit Pashu-Palak
Sansthan as the Year of the Camel. A
survey conducted in early 2004 revealed an almost 50% fall in the camel
population over the last nine years, in two administrative units of Pali
district. In order to raise the issue and identify solutions to the problem,
LPPS organized a workshop which was attended by about 50 camel breeders. Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
assisted with the preparations for this extremely fruitful meeting, which was
funded by the Ford Foundation and the Rolex Award.
Workshop proceedings: www.pastoralpeoples.org/docs/camel_workshop.pdf.
Saving the camel and peoples’ livelihoods: Building a multi-stakeholder
platform for the conservation of the camel in India –
An international conference
Sadri, India, 23–25 November 2004
In order to raise awareness about the acute crisis of
camel breeding in India
and to benefit from experiences gained in other countries, LPP and LPPS jointly
organized an international conference with support from Misereor, FAO and Rolex
funds. This was attended by scientists from Sudan,
Oman, Kazakhstan, France,
and the United Arab Emirates,
as well as journalists from India
and the UK.
The participants made their joint recommendations on how to save India’s camel
population in form of the Mammaji-ki-dhuni
Memorandum. Due to the efforts of BBC
radio journalist Susie
Emmett, the New Agriculturalist online
devoted its January issue to the camel. The conference facilitator was LPP
member Paul Mundy, who also edited the proceedings.
New Agriculturalist Online: www.new-agri.co.uk/05-1/focuson.html
Conference proceedings (including text of the Mammaji-ki-dhuni
Memorandum): www.pastoralpeoples.org/docs/camel_conf_proc.pdf.
Cooperation with SCOPE in Pakistan
On 13–15 March 2004, Christiane Herweg
visited the non-government organization SCOPE to see their activities in Pakistan. She
also presented a lecture on the topic Anthrax:
A threat to man and livestock during a workshop about livestock in
Tharparkar district. This workshop was held in Mithi and was attended by about
80 people.
Analysis of Pakistan’s
livestock policy and institutional framework from the perspective of pastoralists
Since local efforts to support livestock keepers are
always influenced by the overall policies in which they are embedded, LPP has
initiated an analysis of the policy context and institutional frameworks of Pakistan with
respect to livestock development. This is part of a larger project on
pastoralism in the Thar Desert that is
implemented by SCOPE and supported by Misereor. Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
visited Pakistan
in December to begin this study. She met with livestock keepers around Mithi,
held a meeting with NGOs at the Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO) in
Umerkot, presented a lecture in Mithi about animal genetic resources and
Livestock Keepers’ Rights, and talked to government officials in Karachi.
LPP participation in networks
European NGO Network on Genetic Engineering
(Genet) (Anita Idel)
ELD network (Ellen Geerlings, Sabine Homann,
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, Evelyn Mathias)
German NGO Forum for Environment and
Development’s Working Group on Desertification (Christiane Herweg)
German NGO Forum for Environment and
Development’s Working Group on Agriculture and Environment (Evelyn Mathias)
LIFE
(Local Livestock for Empowerment) Network (Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, Evelyn
Mathias)
ALIVE (Evelyn Mathias and Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
attended the stakeholder workshop of the ALIVE project at the World Bank’s
office in Paris, 31 May–1 June).
WAMIP (World Association of Mobile Indigenous
Peoples) (Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, Evelyn Mathias)
Working Group on Food Security of the Federal
Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture and the Federal Ministry
for Economic Cooperation and Development (Evelyn Mathias).
Activities of LPP members
Hedy Bühlmann organized the CME
in Niamey, Niger on 12–16 November 2004 on the
topic of Accès aux Ressources Naturelles
pour les éleveurs: Code pastoral – Signe
de reconnaissance légitime en faveur des éleveuers ou combat continu sans
solution durable ?
Christiane Herweg presented a lecture on Engagement für Autonomie und Identität: 10 Jahre
Liga für Hirtenvöker und nachhaltige Viehwirtschaft,
to the ‘Deutscher
Akademikerinnenbund’ (an
association of female academics) in Bremen
on 18 October 2004. This was organized by Andrea Buchelt.
Sabine Homann
completed her doctoral dissertation Indigenous
knowledge of Borana pastoralists in natural resource management: A case study
from southern Ethiopia.
Congratulations, Sabine!
Anita Idel
is a member in the project group of the German network on ecological animal
breeding and provides guidance to the transnational network on ecological
animal breeding which comprises mostly Eastern European countries. She also
organized a session on animal breeding during the IFOAM Conference that was
held in Nairobi
in September 2004.
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson presented a paper on Participatory approaches to using the camel
in combating desertification (co-authored by H.S. Rathore)
at the international conference Desertification
Combat and Food Security: The Added Values of Camel Producers, held in
Ashkabad (Turkmenistan)
on 19–22 April 2004. This conference was organized by CIRAD (France)
and the Institute
of Desert Flora and Fauna
in Ashkabad.
Ilse also is a
resource person in the ILRI-BMZ-Project Improving
the livelihoods of poor livestock-keepers in Africa
through community-based management of indigenous farm animal genetic resources.
She participated in the First Annual Project Workshop and Training held at
IITA, Cotonou, Benin, on 11–15 October 2004. She
introduced the LIFE method into
the project tool kit and remains involved with documenting the process of
obtaining prior informed consent by the communities.
Evelyn
Mathias is on the advisory panel of the GTZ/FAO/Universität Hohenheim study on
gene flow. She participated in the study’s planning sessions on 26–27 January
and 23–25 June in Hohenheim. She also
participated in Sortenschutztagung
(on farmers’ rights and patents) in Berlin on 20 January, the conference Developing agrobiodiversity: Strategies and
proposals for sustainable livestock and plant breeding in Berlin on 4–5
February, and the international conference Global
animal production: Blessing or curse in Wageningen on 4 November 2004.
Paul Mundy facilitated writeshops and edited manuals on Food security in pastoral areas in Ethiopia
(International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Nairobi, www.mamud.com/foodsec.htm), and on Drought cycle management: A toolkit for the
drylands of the Greater Horn of Africa (International Institute of Rural
Reconstruction, Cordaid and Acacia Consultants, Nairobi, www.mamud.com/droughtcycle.htm).
Publications
This section includes outputs of LPP projects as well as
documents by LPP members relevant to the objectives and focus of LPP.
Geerlings, Ellen. 2004. The black sheep of Rajasthan. Seedling, October:11–16. www.grain.org/seedling/?id=303.
Idel, Anita. 2004. Final project report (sections on
animal breeding and gender) in the BFMB Project "Agrobiodiversität
entwickeln – was hemmt sie und was fördert sie?" www.agrobiodiversitaet.net.
Idel, Anita
und Ulrich Petschow. 2004. “Das globale Huhn”. PROKLA: Zeitschrift für kritische
Sozialwirtschaft 135, Verlag Westfälisches Dampfboot, Münster.
Idel, Anita; Boivin, Xavier;
Seabrook; Martin; Vaarst, Mette and Francoise Wemelsfelder.
2004. “The role of humans in the management of organic herds”. In: Lockeretz Willi; Loderick,
Stephen; Lund, Vonne and Mette Vaarst (eds). Animal health and welfare in organic
agriculture. Cabi Publishing, London, pp. 205–25.
Idel, Anita und Maite Mathes.
2004. “Warum die Tierzucht ökologisiert werden muss”. In: Landwirtschaft 2004. Der kritische Agrarbericht. Agrarbündnis,
AbL-Bauernblatt Verlag, Hamm,
pp. 197–202.
Köhler-Rollefson, Ilse.
2004. “Farm animal genetic resources. Safeguarding national assets for food
security and trade”. Summary publication about four workshops on animal genetic
resources held in the SADC Region. FAO, CTA
and GTZ.
Köhler-Rollefson, Ilse.
2004. “Il est vital de proteger les eleveurs de betail traditionnels”. La Revue Durable 12, Sept–Oct: 28–31.
Köhler-Rollefson, I. 2004. Livestock
keepers’ rights: Conserving breeds, supporting livelihoods. League for
Pastoral Peoples (in English and German).
Köhler-Rollefson, I. 2004. Building
an international legal framework on animal genetic resources. Can it help the
drylands and food-insecure countries? German NGO Forum on Environment and
Development, Bonn.
Köhler-Rollefson
I. and Rathore, H.S. 2004. “Participatory approaches to using the camel in
combating desertification”. In: B. Faye and P.
Esenow, eds, Desertification combat and food safety. IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp. 35–42.
Mathias, Evelyn. 2004.
“Ethnoveterinary medicine: Harnessing its potential”. Veterinary Bulletin 74(8):27N-37N.
Mathias, E. and C.M.
McCorkle. 2004. “Traditional
livestock healers”. Rev. sci. tech. Off int. Epiz. 23(1):277-284.
www.oie.int/eng/publicat/RT/2301/PDF%20A-F-E/20.Mathias.pdf
Papers at meetings, workshops and conferences
Köhler-Rollefson, I. and Rathore, H.S. 2004. “Participatory approaches to
using the camel in combating desertification“. International Conference on
“Desertification combat and food security: The added values of camel
producers”, held in Ashkabad,
Turkmenistan,
19–22 Apr 2004.
Köhler-Rollefson,
I., Mathias, E. and
Wanyama, J. “Pastoral nomads and their stake in an international treaty on animal
genetic resources”. International
Conference “Dialogue between cultures and civilizations: Present state and
perspectives of nomadism in a globalizing world”, organized by the Mongolian National
University in Ulaanbaatar, 9–14 Aug 2004.
Köhler-Rollefson,
I. and Rathore, H.S. “The current
dilemma and future perspectives of the Raika in India: Present state and perspectives of nomadism in a globalizing world”. International
conference “Dialogue between cultures
and civilizations: present state and perspectives of nomadism in a globalizing
world”, organized by the Mongolian National University
in Ulaanbaatar,
Aug 9–14 2004.
Wanyama, J.,
Köhler-Rollefson, I., Mathias,
E, and G.
Akall. “Pastoralists’ rights to
animal genetic resources”. 3rd International conference on biodiversity
and organic agriculture, Nairobi,
22–24 Sept 2004.
About the League for Pastoral Peoples
Mission
LPP provides technical support, advisory services and
advocacy for pastoral societies and other small-scale livestock keepers to help
them pursue their own vision of development and to stand their ground in the
face of unfavourable policy environments and alienation of their pasture
grounds. LPP is also a resource organization for holistic and people-centred
livestock development and promotes the concept of endogenous livestock
development relying on indigenous knowledge and institutions, local animal genetic
resources and feed. The well-being of domesticated animals is a secondary but
important focus of its work.
Background
LPP was established in 1992 by a small group of veterinary
and other concerned professionals confronted with the crisis situation of camel
pastoralists in Rajasthan. Efforts to alleviate their situation set into motion
a mutual learning process and a series of measures such as action research,
projects related to animal health (including ethnoveterinary approaches) and
marketing, as well as training and capacity-building. This has resulted in the
establishment of the independent local organization Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan
(LPPS) which now represents a key partner and provides infrastructural support
for activities in India.
Philosophy
Taking our cues from pastoralists we believe in the
interconnectedness between the well-being of people and their domesticated
animals. By conceptualizing animals as machines, industrialized animal
production systems sever one of the few remaining links between humans and the
natural world. We regard animals as fellow creatures on this planet and not as
subjects. The ultimate goal of our effort is human well-being.