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Community-based management of farm animal genetic resources in practice: framework for focal goats in two rural communities in Southern Benin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

L.H. Dossa
Affiliation:
Georg-August University of Goettingen, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
C. Wollny
Affiliation:
University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, Berlinstrasse 109, 55411 Bingen, Germany
M. Gauly
Affiliation:
Georg-August University of Goettingen, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
I. Gbégo
Affiliation:
Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Bénin, INRAB, CRAS Niaouli, 01 BP: 884, Cotonou, République du Bénin
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Summary

This paper describes and analyses the process of implementing participatory community-based management (CBM) towards sustainable management of goat genetic resources in two rural communities in Southern Benin from November 2005 to February 2007. The process started with the selection of the communities. This was followed by a participatory situation analysis, identification of problems and of possible solutions, and the provisionof relevant information and training to interested farmers. It was facilitated by a multidisciplinary research team composed of a specialist in livestock production systems, a socio-economist and an agronomist. The interaction between the research team and the farmers aimed to develop and implement community led strategies towards better management and conservation of the local resources of goat. The approach adopted to facilitate the creation of representative, accountable and legal local institutions and the efforts made in ensuring their empowerment are described. It has been shown that once local people recognise the benefits of such community-based activities and are offered the relevant information and technical support, they can organize themselves effectively and take appropriate actions to better manage and conserve their local resources. The interactive nature of thisapproach allows its rapid adjustment to different local conditions and thus its replication elsewhere.

Résumé

Cette étude décrit et analyse le processus d'élaboration et de mise en œuvre de mécanismes pour une gestion á base communautaire des ressources génétiques caprines dans deux communautés rurales au sud du Bénin. La première étape de cette recherche-action initiée en Novembre 2005 par une équipe pluridisciplinaire composée d'un spécialiste des systèmes de productions animales, d'un socio-économiste et d'un agronome est la sélection des communautés. Elle a été suivie par un diagnostic participatif des conditions actuelles d'utilisation des ressources caprines locales, par l'identification des contraintes et des solutions possibles, par des échanges d'informations pertinentes entre communautés rurales et chercheurs et par l'organisation de séances de sensibilisation et de formation á l'intention des éleveurs. Les résultats ont montré que lorsque les communautés locales sont informées du danger que représente la perte de la diversité génétique animale pour leur bien-être social, culturel et économique, et qu'elles bénéficient d'un appui technique adéquat, elles peuvent s'organiser de manière efficace et développer des stratégies appropriées pour mieux gérer et conserver leurs ressources zoogénétiques locales.

Resumen

Este estudio describe y analiza el proceso de elaboración y puesta en marcha de mecanismos para una gestión con base comunitaria de los recursos zoogenéticos caprinos en dos comunidades rurales en el sur de Benín. La primera etapa de esta acción-investigación inició en noviembre 2005 con la selección de las comunidades por parte de un equipo pluridisciplinario compuesto pourun especialista en sistemas de producción animal, un socioeconómico y un agrónomo. A esta etapa siguió un diagnóstico participativo sobre las condiciones actuales de utilización de los recursos locales en caprinos, una identificación de las limitaciones y de las posibles soluciones utilizando los intercambios de informaciones pertinentes entre las comunidades rurales y los investigadores y la formación de ganaderos. Los resultandos han mostrado que cuando las comunidades locales están informadas del peligro que representa la pérdida de diversidad genética animal para el bienestar social, cultural y económico, y si se les proporciona apoyo técnico adecuado, pueden organizarse de forma eficaz y desarrollar estrategias apropiadas para una mejor gestión y conservación de sus recursos zoogenéticos locales.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2009

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