Philippine E-Journals

Approaches to Sustainable Parasite Control in Small Ruminants: A Cross-Country Assessment of Impacts on Stakeholders in Vietnam, Indonesia and The Philippines

Anna Marie P. Alo | Somkiat Saithanoo

Discipline: Agriculture

 

Abstract:

The ILRI-IFAD Technical Assistance Grant 443 (TAG 443) capitalized on the farmers' direct participation paradigm, and offered to the farmers the opportunity to be local scientists on integrated goat worm control. As the approach used was community-based, both the farmers and other local stakeholders were included in all phases of project activities. Farmers thus became adopters, adapters, and often, the innovators of new small ruminant farming techniques; they also became mentors to other interested farmers. Other local stakeholders became diffusers of the farmer-designed technologies and aided in radiating these technologies to other communities. This paper discusses how technologies on small ruminant helminth control were developed, tested, redesigned, and diffused and the benefits they brought to the stakeholders in three TAG 443 participating countries-Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Although the paths taken by each had differences, the lessons point to one thing: it is indeed crucial that the small ruminant raisers be involved at all phases of the project. Not only did it accelerate the adaptation and advancement of new farming practices, but it likewise improved the livelihoods of participating small livestock raisers.