Livestock Farming and Economic Development in Kismaayo District Jubbaland-Somalia

ABSTRACT The study sought to establish a relationship between livestock fanning and economic development in Kismaayo district Jubbaland- Somalia. The study objectives were; to (I) Identify the role of livestock on the economic development in Jubbaland-Somalia, (2) to investigate the challenges facing in livestock in Kismaayo District .Jubbaland-Somalia,(3) recommend the possible solutions of the problems facing in livestock in Jubbaland-Somalia A cross sectional survey was used in the course of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data was gathered in order to establish the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, so as to examine the impact of livestock farming on economic development in Kismaayo district, Jubbaland in Somalia. The study comprised of 133 respondents as a target population where by I 00 were sampled and these were; 23 District veterinary officers, 45 Livestock farmers and 65 Other local peasants. Simple random approach was used during the study. Purposive sampling was also used to select only respondents for the researcher to attain the purpose of the study. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources using questionnaires and interviews. After collecting data, the researcher organized well-answered questionnaire, data was edited and s011ed for the next stage. The data was presented in tables with frequencies and percentages. It was found out that livestock are often one of the most important sources of cash income for poor households. It was fm1her revealed that Livestock utilize feeds with few alternative uses to produce highly nutritious foods for people in small but regular amounts. The study found out that animal diseases continue to constrain livestock productivity and agricultural development. It further discovered that there has been estimated that in Sub-Saharan Africa animal diseases result in annual losses in excess of US$4 billion, which represent about one fourth of the total value of animal production. It was recommended that improved animal disease control and strategies to expand the availability of trepan-tolerant livestock will contribute to improving livestock production. Support to the development of intensive commercial livestock production enterprises around large coastal cities is advocated.