Livestock contributes to the sustainable livelihoods and security of more than 800 million poor smallholder farmers. It offers poor households sources of high quality nutrition, especially for pregnant women and for improving the cognitive skills and mental growth of children. In marginal rural areas, where poverty is rampant, livestock represents an important asset for local cultural and socioeconomic systems, and allows the effective use of otherwise unutilizable resources. In working with rural communities and pastoralists, our aim is to develop a sustainable livestock sector where smallholder farmers can have higher incomes and better access to services, technologies and markets.

The Share Fair sessions will provide the participants an opportunity to:

• learn about new livestock technologies and approaches
• discuss innovative approaches to target nomadic communities
• explore the benefits of livestock
• development revolving funds

This session will feature a video story showing how Syrian farmers benefitted from the experience of Bosnian famers on how to improve their milk collection techniques. Participants will see how the transfer of experience between these two countries has had a positive impact on the livelihoods of poor rural farmers.

Nabil Mahaini
IFAD