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

Participants in this session will learn how mobile extension teams have raised use of preventive veterinary services among nomadic communities in Sudan. Historically these communities have sought veterinary help only during disease outbreaks and have been reluctant to pay for preventive services. The mobile extension team has succeeded in raising acceptance of prevention measures in many parts of the region. The past two years have seen a significant increase in participation in vaccination campaigns, with many hundred thousand animal heads, even with fees being charged for the service. Come to this session to learn the secrets to this success.

Abdel Hamied Adam Hamid
Western Sudan Resource Management Programme