Why many well-funded livestock programmes struggle to create sustainable income Goats, sheep and other small livestock are often described as the “poor man’s first asset” because they require relatively modest initial investment, can be managed by women and smallholders, reproduce relatively quickly and provide a source of food, manure and emergency cash. Yet, owning livestock does not automatically create a sustainable livelihood or a profitable enterprise. This is where man

Small livestock enterprises—such as goatery, sheep rearing, backyard poultry and piggery—plays a vital role in rural livelihoods. To strengthen production and service delivery, many development programs promote a cluster-based approach , where farmers within a geographical area are organized for training, input supply and technical support. However, when it comes to marketing , clusters often face persistent challenges related to transportation, aggregation and achieving mark