The Sustainability of Sheep Production in Mozambique

Sustainability can be viewed as the reproductive performance of a system over time. It strongly advocates for the effectively and efficiently use of given resources wisely thereby enhancing that opportunities may be equal for all future generations and the present. With sustainability, it¿s the driving hub on which any agricultural activity should hinge on. In Mozambique, sheep production by smallholder farmers faces numerous challenges. Many farmers got government assistance to start up sheep production way back in 1986. There has not efficient and effective support from the government especially the department of Animal Husbandry. Many farmers involved in this enterprise experience less meaningful gain from sheep breeding. Lack of support and poorly staffed government ministry of agriculture continue to affect the sustainable production of sheep by smallholder farmers in the northern part of Mozambique, There are very few non-governmental organizations in the area. According to Dumanski (1997:5), agriculture remains the hub of economic growth and poverty alleviation in most of the developing countries.