The rapid and uncontrolled growth of the livestock sector "has given rise to systemic risks that may have catastrophic implications for livelihoods, human and animal health and the environment," concludes the report on 'The State of Food and Agriculture,' published yesterday (18 February).
"There has been a major transformation in the way the livestock sector is organised," said Terri Raney, editor of the FAO report. It has become increasingly commercialised and more integrated at all levels of the product chain, while growth in international trade has also been rapid, she added.
Food security
The report stresses that livestock is essential to the livelihoods of around one billion poor people.
Food security and livestock are linked in that livestock has a key role to play in providing cash income for poor people. They can sell eggs or milk, for example, allowing them to purchase other foods for the family, Raney explained.
But many smallholders are finding it a challenge to remain competitive in the face of larger, more intensive production systems, in which quality standards and timeliness of production have become very important criteria, the FAO warned.
The agency's director-general, Jacques Diouf, said efforts were needed to move towards a "more responsible livestock sector" which contributes fully to food security and poverty reduction.
Agenda for action
The agency is calling for an "agenda for action" to ensure better governance and a "more inclusive development process" for the sector.
It recommends that "smallholders should be supported in taking advantage of the opportunities provided by an expanding livestock sector and in managing the risks associated with increasing competition".
Furthermore, it believes that broader rural development strategies to create off-farm jobs should help those that may be unable to adapt and compete in this rapidly modernising sector.
