Improvement of village chicken production in a mixed (chicken-ram) farming system in Burkina Faso / تحسين إنتاج الدجاج القروي في نظام الزراعة المختلطة (كبش الدجاج) في بوركينا فاسو

Strategic role of livestock in Sahelian traditional livelihood systems

The role of livestock in developing countries in general and in Sahelian regions, in particular, is already well reviewed by many authors (Ayantunde, 1998; Nianogo and Somda, 1999; Guèye, 2000; Slingerland, 2000). In Sahelian countries animal production is after crop production, the second activity of the population. The level of industrialisation is low and employment in the modern sector (public services and private business) is practically negligible (Slingerland, 2000). About 65 to 80% of the human population live in rural areas and their life is strongly linked to crop and livestock production.

Livestock sustains agriculture in Sahelian regions by supplying food, draught power, and manure, and thus direct (by off-takes) or indirect income for rural households.

For example, in Burkina Faso, livestock represents the second resource after cotton and constitutes the second exportation product. It participates for 13% of the Gross Domestic Product (DREE, 1999) and in 1997 livestock represented 28% of total agriculture production.

In the following section we will demonstrate the strategic role of livestock in Sahelian traditional livelihood.

Social, cultural, and religious roles of livestock Livestock is known to play an important role in social and cultural life in developing countries in general and in Sahelian countries in particular (Tadelle and Ogle, 1996; Sonaiya et al., 1999; Slingerland, 2000). Cattle is considered as an object of prestige and a sign of richness in crop production farming systems, whereas for the Fulani who practice the livestock farming system, life is organised in direct relation to cattle breeding. Small ruminants (sheep and goat), and family poultry are frequently used as gifts for relatives, sacrifice, marriage or religious ceremonies (Sonaiya et al., 1999; Slingerland, 2000).

In Senegal, Guèye (2000) indicated that poultry has a mystical function and farmers believe that bad spirits which target the family can be diverted to chicken.

As a result of this, the chosen birds often show neurological symptoms.

The author indicated that this might explain partly the fact that in each Senegalese village household, there is a strong wish to keep at least a chicken flock.

Furthermore, he noted that poultry have an important hygiene function, as they feed on household refuse, earthworm, insects, etc. They therefore reduce or even remove household waste and pests.

Mourad et al. (1997) studied the destination of village chickens at farm level. They showed that these are mainly used for commercialisation for 45% and reproduction for 28% (Figure 1).

The uses of village chickens for socio-cultural roles (sacrifice and gift) are important (5 to 10%) but, appear to be significantly lower than the use for income generation (45%).