Relevance and feasibility of mini livestock farming in enhancing food security in Southern Africa

Mini livestock is a sustainable form of animal production that has significant potential for alleviating malnutrition and food insecurity in Southern Africa. It should be considered as a normalcomponent of livestock and rural development which has the capacity to improve nutrition and food security. It is very muchassociated with increased food security as it lends itself to small scale family production. This discussion looks at the opportunities ofutilizing mini livestock species as an alternative source of protein solving the food insecurity challenges in Southern Africa. Minilivestock production has diverse economic and social functions inrural communities. It can be valued as one of the livestock sub sectors having enormous potential for enhancing food security. The conventional livestock production sector has been facing multiple challenges as a result of rise in human population, urbanization andclimate change. This trend has lead to a rise in demand for livestock products, which means meat productivity or the number of meatanimals will have to increase to meet the animal protein demand. The protein production from conventional livestock has been falling,as a result there is need for alternative sources of animal protein supply. Focusing on mini livestock species as an alternative source ofprotein may be just as important. Most animals in the mini livestock class are promising in enhancing food security because they require little capital, equipment, space and labor. The discussion concludes that mini livestock constitute an important reservoir of genetic animal resources which has not been given adequate recognition. However, it is envisaged the utilization of mini livestock will address the animal protein challenges facing Southern Africa, especially in the resource poor rural communities where the problem is most apparent. Given the economic, social and ecological advantages of mini livestock farming it is arguably deserves even greater attention

Keywords:

Mini livestock , , Food security , , Poverty , , Southern africa