Socio-economic characteristics of farmers and constraints to livestock development in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of Morocco

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the socio-economic characteristics of livestock breeders in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of Morocco, as well as the constraints of livestock farming. Five sites in the region, representing mountain oases, intermediate oases and plain oases, were selected. In each site, three to five rural districts, each with one to eight breeders of each livestock species were selected. Depending on the main livestock species owned by the breeder, the interviewer completed the species-specific questionnaire. A total of 305 surveys were conducted in 21 districts with 19.7, 34.4, 23.3, 6.88, 11.5 and 4.26% cattle, sheep, goat, camel, chicken and rabbit breeders, respectively. Descriptive statistics were calculated for continuous variables and frequencies were calculated for qualitative variables. According to the findings, the breeders of the region were men (82%), married (93.7%), having been to school (48.4%) and exercising agriculture - livestock as a primary activity (71.5%). Breeders of each species owned on average 4.14 ± 4.81 cattle, 52.2 ± 77.8 sheep, 66.0 ± 77.4 goats, 27.2 ± 30.3 dromedaries, 10.7 ± 8.99 chickens and 12.0 ± 14.9 rabbits. Their initial herd was acquired through inheritance (51.4%), purchase (34.7%), both purchase and inheritance (10.4%) or donation (2.39). The objective of breeding was the generation of income through the sale of live animals and animal products. The preferred traits varied depending on the livestock species. The dynamics of animal numbers over the past five years were increasing (32.2%), decreasing (45.2%) and stable (22.6%). The main constraint to livestock development was the high cost of feedstuffs (index= 0.47). The first action proposed by breeders for livestock development was the provision of feedstuffs at subsidized prices (index= 0.42). It was concluded that these results might be helpful in developing strategies to improve livestock production.