| Abstract: | In the last decade, community-based animal breeding programs have gained attention for the genetic improvement of small ruminants in the tropics. Nevertheless, implementing such programs remains challenged by the issue of smallholders' participation. To shed light on this issue of participation, a goat genetic improvement project has been assessed for its socioeconomic relevance through participatory methods, taking account of goat multifunctionality. We quantified the gross margins per flock and per animal as indicators of viability. We assessed then the correspondence between the goat functions defined through a proportional piling tool with the relative share of these functions in the gross revenue. For that purpose, 160 smallholders were surveyed and 77 among them were monitored for one year. A cluster analysis of factors linked to the dynamic of goat farming identified three groups of farmers. The first group gathered farmers with the smallest goat flocks, who were goat oriented in the future. Their sustainable participation in goat breeding project was impeded by the excessive sales of goats. The second group involved farmers with the highest farm size, who planned to buy cattle to replace part of their goats. The third group included farmers who were members of the project with the largest goat flocks. This group emphasized the importance of goat for their future but showed weak abilities to manage large flocks. The gross margin per animal was the highest in the third group. The relative importance of goat functions as defined through participatory tools did not correspond to the relative share of these functions in the composition of the gross revenue from goats. Participatory tools and economic calculation then appear as complementary to understand farmers' priorities. Consolidating breeders' associations and supporting farmers to diversify their sources of income are two ways proposed here to ensure an enabling environment to goat husbandry and farmers' well-being. |
