Smallholder Farmers Participation in Livestock Market in Zambia

INTRODUCTION: Livestock production and associated products offer substantial opportunities for economic growth and poverty reduction for rural households in Zambia. However, smallholder livestock producers are often characterized by low livestock market participation. Among the many reasons cited in the literature are producer remoteness from the main urban market centers and poor road infrastructure, both of which raise transport costs. Zambia's Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP) recognizes the importance of addressing livestock marketing challenges as a way of ensuring food security, employment creation, and increased incomes. However, the lack of knowledge about smallholder livestock marketing constraints, often leads to misguided interventions that have little impact on improving household welfare. This study uses three-year panel data to identify factors that influence smallholder farmer participation in livestock markets.