Obstacles to the development of the pig value chain in Casamance (Senegal): what do actors of the subsector say?

Abstract

In Senegal, pig farming is growing at an annual rate of 3.5% and covers 15% of national white meat production. Long neglected by public authorities, it now arouses an interest from development policies that devote improvement projects and programs to it. To accompany this paradigm shift, it is necessary to identify pig-breeding constraints. Thus, a cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in the form of individual interviews and/or focus group interviews among 85 stakeholders (70 farmers, 14 livestock technicians and 1 feed manufacturer) with two visits (February and March 2016) in the three regions of Casamance. Results showed that pig farming is a secondary activity that many farmers are considering giving up because of the difficulties encountered. Pig feeding and diseases remain a challenge because of the low availability of feed and medicines, or the high price of feed. These explain the practice of letting pigs roam free, which aggravates health problems. According to farmers, pig farming is characterized by a periodic reconstitution of the herd, made necessary by high mortalities during African swine fever epizootics. In addition, farmers’ sociocultural considerations may limit investment and constitute an obstacle to the development of pig farming. The development of swine breeding in natural Casamance will depend on a better control of feeding, breeding management, reproduction monitoring, and adequate prophylaxis against parasitic and infectious diseases.