The role of zambian cattle populations in socio-economic development

摘要

TheroleofZambiancattleinsocio-economicdevelopmentisaddressed,constraintsareidentifiedandmeasuresaimedatimprovingtheireconomicviabilityareoutlined.Itisarguedthatcattleplayapivotalroleinsocio-economicdevelopment,andthereforemoreattentionshouldbepaidtotheroleofcattleinsocio-economicdevelopmentofthecountry.Anunderstandingofsucharoleprovidesagoodplatformtoformulatebothbreedingandproductionpolicies.Breedingandproductionsystemspromotedbywrongpoliciessuchascopyingfromwesterncountrieswithoutmodificationtosuitlocalconditionscanbeliterallyalethalweapon.Anunderstandingbetweenscientistsandproducersontheonehandandthepolicymakersontheothercanonlybereachedifallpartiesknowthebenefitstothesocietyoftheeffortstheyarepursuing.However,organizationoftheworkshouldbebasedonwelldefinedbreedingandproductionobjectivesforthecommercialandsmallholders.