Participation of Small Farmers in Animal Health Programmes

A questionnaire was sent to the Veterinary Authorities of OIE Members. The results showed that the majority (median 90%) of livestock farms are considered small. Veterinary Authorities believed that small farmers contribute to the livestock economy, but are a major weak point to national biosecurity. Small farmers’ animal health needs were seen as higher, but their available capacity to address these needs was lower than larger farmers. Although the majority of countries did not disaggregate data by farm size, most respondents believed that publicly funded projects should be reviewed for size bias, and that small farmers’ associations should have a role in guiding animal health policies. In the majority of countries, small farmers have a role in all aspects of control of priority and non-priority diseases. In one third of countries that responded, they have a role in extension, and in a few countries are even involved in veterinary drug importation and sale. Community animal health workers (CAHWs), who are usually small farmers selected by their community and trained as service providers on selected animal health activities, are emerging as important providers of services in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Officially mandated disease prevention and control programmes focus mainly on the diseases of cattle, and are hence less relevant to small farmers. Small farmers directly provide information used for surveillance in most countries, and provide more than 80% of such information in some countries.