Assistance in the Preparation of a Livestock Strategy and Action Plan, Sierra Leone. Terminal statement

Livestock keeping is an important smallholder activity in Sierra Leone, providing income and subsistence, and is valued for ceremonial purposes. However, this subsector has largely been neglected and is in decline. Government services, which historically have been veterinary- oriented, have largely broken down.The project proposed a single set of strategies for the livestock sector, rather than trying to distinguish between short-, medium- and long-term strategies for the relatively short period until 2000. Action plans were separated into those which can be undertaken by the Government with little or no external assistance and those requiring external assistance. Proposals for a small ruminant development project were developed and submitted to the Government and UNDP for funding.Project findings and conclusions were discussed at a National Livestock Policy and Programme Workshop held in December 1991, and the project assisted in the preparation of the proceedings. Project findings and conclusions were also incorporated into the recent Agricultural Sector Review, supported by FAO.For the immediate future, development efforts should focus on smallstock, which are widely owned and distributed throughout the country, rather than on cattle. There is no prospect in the short-term to medium-term for dairy development. Development should be based on indigenous breeds, apart from commercial pig and poultry production, and improved nutrition and animal health should be the main foci of development.The delivery of extension methods should be gradually transferred to selected and trained members of the respective communities, which should increasingly contribute toward the provision of such services. Effective extension activities will depend upon a major training programme at all levels, from senior staff to farmers. This will entail a revision of existing training facilities and curricula, and the development of appropriate extension messages.Sierra Leone should benefit from experience gained elsewhere in West Africa in developing appropriate extension messages. The FAO regional project RAF/88/100 'Promotion of Trypanotolerant Livestock in West and Central Africa', based in the Gambia, would be in a position to assist in this respect. Research should be applied and based on the verification of most likely technologies, and be closely linked with extension.As requested the project has identified five projects which the Government can submit to donors for funding. Profiles for projects which address issues concerning animal health services, private sector support, institutional strengthening, livestock information systems, and small ruminant development have been prepared.Given the constraints faced by the Government, greater private sector involvement should be promoted in all aspects of livestock production and marketing