Livestock are source of economic income not a source of inter-communal conflict
By Madhieu Thiep Madhieu, Juba, South Sudan
September 8, 2016 (SSB) — Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor for human benefit. The term “livestock” is nebulous and may be defined narrowly or broadly. In broader definition, livestock refers to any breed or population of animal kept by humans for a useful, commercial purpose.
South Sudan is among the world richest countries with livestock especially cattle, goats and sheep. Many people from various ethnic groups in the country keep and rely partially or wholly on livestock products as their main source of economic survival. Majority of these cattle Keepers in South Sudan are in different states keeping distinct species of dairy and beef cattle. Livestock in South Sudan are mainly kept for marriage and traditional sacrifice to great ancestors, instead of being used economically.
Animal production continues to play a major economic and cultural role in numerous rural communities in any country around the globe. Cattle are supposed to breed, maintenance, and slaughter to earn an income to the nation.
Livestock are thought by most people in South Sudan as source of inter communal conflicts rather than being economic animals that generate income to the country. It is assumed that cattle are dangerous to be reared because they engage people to fight each other and therefore they should be eliminated one and for all. As a result make communities who don’t keep cattle turned bitter against livestock keepers. This false proposition lacks ground, though it had negatively affected the improvement of livestock production in our nation.
According to my own perception, cattle are the most social animals globally in comparison to human being. They don’t move to far places if they are not drive, nor do they kill people unless in some minor cases where they accidentally horned people in self-defense if aggressed. The cause of inter communal conflicts in South Sudan is not cattle as people claimed but they owners of these animals engineered the communal conflict. Because our cattle owners priorities looting/raiding instead of improving few breed they have.
Livestock are used by humans for a variety of food and nonfood products, many of which have an economic value to the country. Some of the Commercial uses of livestock include Meat, Milk, Hide &skin, companionship, pest control, leather, blood, draught, searching, guarding/watching, sacrifice or offering, pharmaceuticals, bone products, industrial protein, fats and wool which can be processed into useful product for export and local use.
For many abattoirs, very little animal biomass may be wasted at slaughter. Even intestinal contents removed at slaughter may be recovered for use as fertilizer. Livestock manure helps maintain the fertility of grazing lands. Manure is commonly collected from barns and feeding areas to fertilize cropland. In some places, animal manure is used as fuel, either directly, or indirectly (as a source of methane for heating or for generating electricity). In other regions of South Sudan where machine power is limited, some classes of livestock are used as draft stock, not only for tillage and other on-farm use, but also for transport of people and goods.
Although livestock production serves as a source of income, it can provide additional economic values for rural families, often serving as a major contributor to food security and security. The country would have been exporting various products of livestock to many part of the world if the creamy and leather factories were established by our government. Because our country isn’t only bless with abundance oil resource but also enriched with other natural resources and livestock.
Kenya and Uganda for example are they leading exporters of animal products in east Africa regions but with fewer cattle than South Sudan. This is because they have improved their agricultural and livestock industries.
The same thing should have been adopted by our government in order to avoid too depending on oil, leaving behind other important sectors that generate almost 80% of economic income to any nation. Fishing industry is also another vital sector that needs a clear attention of everyone which must be embraced to support our dire economy.
The writer can be reached:madhienthiep@gmail.com
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