Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : The role of ethnoveterinary practices in the rural livestock keeping households the case of UMP district in Zimbabwe

Auteur : Chandavengerwa Willard

Université de soutenance : Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences

Grade : Master in Management of Development, specialising in Food and Nutrition Security 2021

Résumé
The study was carried out to investigate the capacity of farmers, knowledge, and skills on ethnoveterinary practices. The main research question being addressed is, what is the capacity of the rural livestock farmers in maintaining the health and welfare of their livestock using ethnoveterinary medicine in UMP District ? The sub research questions were created to address the main research question. These included why the livestock keeping households use ethnoveterinary remedies, the knowledge, skills, and resources on use of ethnoveterinary remedies by poorly resourced households, the role of man and women in the use of ethnoveterinary remedies in cattle and poultry and the perception of farmers on the support they get from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) on the use of ethnoveterinary remedies.

A qualitative approach was used. Forty (40) livestock keeping households, ethnoveterinary practitioner, government veterinary officer, veterinary extension worker, and an agricultural extension worker were interview. Two (2) focus group discussions with one comprising of ten (10) men and the other ten (10) women were conducted to confirm the data from the questionnaire interviews.

The study revealed that livestock keeping households use ethnoveterinary remedies because they are cheap, readily available, accessible and it is part of their tradition which is passed on from one generation to the other. The livestock keeping families have ethnoveterinary remedies to these diseases. 106 and 105 treatment options were described in cattle and poultry respectively during the questionnaire interviews. At least 80% of the treatment options are plant-based in both cattle and poultry. Household ingredients which include cooking oil, sugar and salt were also used as ethnoveterinary remedies.

The study also showed that men are in the cattle business while women were mainly into poultry rearing. Older people who are over 40 years of age were more knowledgeable about ethnoveterinary practices compared to respondents less than 40 years. Most respondents only seek for assistance from the government when the traditional remedies have failed. The study revealed that farmers receive advisory services, training, and consultation services from the DVS. Only advisory services are important in their ethnoveterinary practices because they give early warning signs on disease outbreaks. Livestock keeping farmers become more prepared and minimise on livestock losses using ethnoveterinary remedies

Présentation

Version intégrale