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 is focused on improving access to markets for domestically produced products, especially those produced by smallholders. Participants will discuss how to add economic value to products to make them more marketable and improve product differentiation.

Gulla Jan
Rural Microfinance and Livestock Support Program
IFAD