The Global Contributions of Working Equids to Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods in Agenda 2030.
Abstract: Small farmers produce most food in low- and middle-income countries and most small farmers rely on directly or indirectly working equids (WE). The lack of methods and metrics for assessing the role of WE hampers realisation of WE contributions. Based on literature review and a survey of WE welfare experts, we propose a framework for optimising WE potential based on two axes of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and value chains. WE contribute especially to earning and sparing income (largely in food production) (SDG 1), but also have roles in accessing health and hygiene services and products (SDG 3 and 5), providing edible products (SDG 2), and benefiting women (SDG 6), with lesser contributions to other SDGs, notably climate action (SDG 13). Experts identified barriers to appropriate appreciation of WE contributions, in order to target actions to overcome them. They found WE are neglected because they belong to farmers who are themselves neglected; because information on WE is inadequate; and, because the unique nature and roles of WE means systems, policies, investors, markets and service providers struggle to cater for them. Harnessing WE to optimally contribute to sustainable development will require generating better evidence on their contributions to SDGs, ensuring better integration into ongoing efforts to attain SDGs, and building the WE capacity among development actors.
© 2022. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2022-09-01 PubMed ID: 36048298PubMed Central: PMC9434516DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01613-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the crucial role of working equids (WE), which include horses, mules, and donkeys, in supporting sustainable agriculture and livelihoods, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It identifies a lack of suitable methods to assess their contribution and proposes a framework based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and value chains.
Background and Current Situation
- Small farmers, who depend either directly or indirectly on working equids (WE), are responsible for the majority of food production in low- and middle-income countries.
- Due to inadequate methodologies and metrics, there is a failure to recognize and measure the significant contributions of WEs towards sustainable farming and livelihoods.
Framework Proposal and Analysis
- The researchers propose a new framework that aligns the potential of WE with two key axes: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and value chains.
- Importantly, WEs contribute to the achievement of several SDGs. They are especially instrumental to SDG 1 (ending poverty), as they help in income generation and conservation, mainly through food production. They also facilitate access to health and hygiene services and products (relating to SDG 3 and 5), provide edible products themselves (SDG 2), and offer particular benefits to women (SDG 6). Their contribution to other SDGs, such as SDG 13 (climate action), is less pronounced.
Barriers and Challenges
- An expert survey was conducted to identify the key barriers obstructing the adequate recognition and harnessing of WE contributions.
- Among the main issues found: the neglect of farmers who own WEs; insufficient and inadequate information on WEs; and the unique roles and characteristics of WEs, which makes it difficult for systems, policies, investors, markets, and service providers to cater to them.
Recommendations and Future Directions
- In order to fully exploit the potential of WEs in promoting sustainable development, there is a need for generating comprehensive evidence on their contributions to SDGs.
- Efforts should also be doubled to ensure better integration of WEs into ongoing efforts aimed at achieving the SDGs.
- Moreover, it is important to build WE capacity among development actors.
Cite This Article
APA
Grace DC, Diall O, Saville K, Warboys D, Ward P, Wild I, Perry BD.
(2022).
The Global Contributions of Working Equids to Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods in Agenda 2030.
Ecohealth, 19(3), 342-353.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-022-01613-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, ME4 4TB, Kent, UK.
- Animal and Human Health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Independent Consultant, Bamako, Mali.
- Brooke-Action for Working Horses and Donkeys, 52-56 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2BJ, UK.
- World Horse Welfare, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, NR16 2LR, Norwich, UK.
- World Horse Welfare, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, NR16 2LR, Norwich, UK.
- World Horse Welfare, Anne Colvin House, Snetterton, NR16 2LR, Norwich, UK.
- Nuffield College of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 1NF, UK. prof.brianperry@gmail.com.
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK. prof.brianperry@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Agriculture
- Climate
- Female
- Humans
- Policy
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Sustainable Development
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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