Abstract
The traditional system of producing small ruminants (sheep and goats) contributes significantly to the socioeconomic wellbeing of farm households in northern Ghana. Besides serving as an important source of income, sheep and goats also offer important non-pecuniary benefits such as the provision of manure, savings, insurance, farm portfolio diversification, and strong social relations. However, technical evaluation of traditional small ruminant systems places much emphasis on financial gains to farmers and abstracts on the non-conventional utilities derived from the livestock system. The main purpose of this study, therefore, is to estimate the overall economic benefits associated with traditional small ruminant systems by accounting for both market and non-market values in two agro-ecological zones (Guinea and Sudan savannah) of northern Ghana. Using a multistage sampling technique, we collected cross-sectional data from 249 small ruminant farmers for empirical analysis. The results show that at least 60% of the net benefits from sheep and goat production in northern Ghana are in non-marketable (non-cash) forms. The study demonstrates that the traditional free-range system of managing sheep and goats is economically viable when the non-market value derived from the system is incorporated in the economic analysis. The findings have practical implications in improving the traditional small ruminant system for higher meat productivity and income generation in northern Ghana and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
Highlights
Numerous livestock development policies and programs for sub-Saharan African economies tend to contribute less to livestock production and productivity for poverty reduction and food security among rural households (Hatab et al 2019)
In summary, the study reveals that small ruminants under the traditional system are raised to perform multiple functions in rural farm households
The use of sheep and goats to perform important sociocultural functions such as faith- and non-faith-based cultural rituals was ranked first. This was closely followed by socio-economic functions and the use of physical products such as meat for sale, manure, hide, and home consumption in rural farm households
Summary
Numerous livestock development policies and programs for sub-Saharan African economies tend to contribute less to livestock production and productivity for poverty reduction and food security among rural households (Hatab et al 2019). The multiple functions of livestock in rural farm households make the production system complex (Salmon et al 2018). Small ruminant livestock plays multiple roles (besides financial benefits from meat sales) in the wellbeing of poor and landless households in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa (Bettencourt et al 2015). In the absence of strong financial markets, livestock, including sheep and goats, is used as alternative forms of wealth accumulation (savings or financing) and risk-coping strategy (insurance) (Islam and Maitra 2012). The animals are, used as both short- and long-term savings against future needs
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