Optimization And Major Constraints Of Small-scale Livestock Production In Cambodia

Livestock production faces many challenges in the country ranging from inadequate fund,insufficient feed,low market prices and many other social factors.This study was aimed at four specific as following:(1)to apply the optimization model to cattle-pig-chicken small-scale production of rural household in Cambodia,(2)to analyze factors that influence farmer behavior to change their cattle-pig-chicken number in Cambodia,(3)to investigate the economic sustainability of rice rain-fed area in rural Cambodia used multiple regression models to estimate socioeconomic factors affecting their disposable income,and(4)to indentify the potential and constraints of livestock productions to enhance small-scale livelihoods in Cambodia.This study is based on primary data collected from the household survey applying standard questionnaire with face-to-face interview and group discussion method.About 204 farmers from 6 districts,12 communes and 18 villages of Battambang Province of Cambodia were purposely interviewed only the farmers rearing animals.Optimization model and multiple empirical regression models using Ordinary Least Squares(OLS)were constructed during data calculation and analysis in STATA software.The perception pattern of farmer was analyzed by Biplot technique and several methods by using statistical descriptive tools such as Frequency and Percentage;and SWOT analysis to identify the constraint and potential of raising livestock were also applied to formulate options for the future development and to make policy on effective way to improve the livestock subsector in the rural region.Mapping at district level was coded and designed in Arc GIS program.The result showed that livestock size were commonly exceeds the optimal level for an efficient production considering their opportunities(family income,income from other jobs and income of livestock)and constraints(feed cost,healthcare cost,livestock death loss and labor cost),The study also found out that majority of the farmers rearing each livestock individually have animal head-count exceeding the optimal level and more is pronounced on chicken production.The plausible cause of this could be the high death rate exhibited on the chicken production.A common trait found was that the farmers with higher disposal income(mostly earned from off-farm jobs)have the potential to increase and manage the farm effectively.Farmers‘ income plays a major role in determining the optimal production size.The more off-farm job opportunity,suitable cattle feed structure,and investment on public health for cattle,the household income in rural Cambodia were being to increase.Moreover,the outcome from the multiple regressions demonstrates the relationship between number of livestock and household income influenced by factors of the household demography and socioeconomic aspect.Education,family size and male farm head positively influence the number of pigs raised by each household while the factor such as off-farm jobs influence otherwise.Besides pig rearing,the result depicted one common factor(the size of cultivated land)being highly significant and positively related to the size of cattle raised by farmers.Other significant factors include the age of the household head,the number of laborers in the family and education of the household head.The result of the empirical analysis shows that many household demography factors as well as the socioeconomic factors influences the disposable income.According to the study,the size of household labor,off-farm jobs,size of rice area,age of the household head and family size have strong impact on the farmers‘ disposal income.Furthermore,with Biotic constraints,the farmer considered the disease spreading,insect and parasite,and theft as the major obstacles(on average ranking 2 and above)to livestock production;Abiotic constraints concentrated on drought and heat stress(on average ranks above 3);and the Socioeconomic constraints were low capital and insufficient livestock feed techniques(on average ranked approximately 3)as major issue of availability or access to factors.Another most key factor is limited feed resource,access to veterinary services,limited market price,poor road facilities,and labor cost as the average ranked 2 and above.During the conducted survey interview,the farmer complained on the market information and price unstable which depended on middleman to set up the livestock price.Last but not least,livestock production was looked throughout the future expectation of about 50%,26%,and 24% of increase,stability,and decrease respectively.Thus the study suggests providing farmers access to capital and adjusting the size of livestock and providing effective management;more so,large portion of feed investment share falls on cattle,suggesting that with increased investment on cattle feed,the farmers would earn better output.To increase livestock production and at optimal level,a system should be established and encouraged to provide farmers with credits either by the government or private or even a public-private cooperation.More,better breeds of livestock resistant to abiotic and biotic factors should be introduced to the farmers to reduce livestock death rate in the region.Subsidy policy for disease control should be provided to affected region or high risk region;and locally,there should be broader extension services orienting farmers on the proper management of small scale livestock especially chicken production.Investing the research and strengthening the quality of education is principal to the livestock subsector development,and embark on thorough extension services to provide guidelines to the local farmers.To recommend for land policy which will infrequently allow farmers to graze on condition of paying little stipend in episodes experiencing scarcity of forages,the nation‘s current economic land concession should be strongly monitored and cancel the concessionary contracts that fail to meet standard so seeing that to relief more land for farmers.Hence,this finding provides an insight to the government,extension officers,and policy makers on effective development of economic sustainability of livestock production system in the regions.