M.B. Barry
Centre Ivoirien de Recherches Economiques et Sociales
Université Nationale de Côte d'Ivoire
08 B.P. 1295 Abidjan 08 Côte d'Ivoire
Summary
With a view to the intensification of production systems, the Ivory Coast is placing a strong emphasis on the integration of agriculture with livestock production. Unfortunately, in the past the methods used to achieve this goal have not always been successful and results have so far proved disappointing. Most emphasis was originally placed on a cattle-Stylosanthes mini-farm system. It was then considered that animal traction would provide the answer to integrating the two sub-sectors and at the same time a forage rotation system would restore soil fertility. Small ruminants have been ignored but these animals are those which traditionally have been integrated into the cropping system. They do not suffer from any sociological constraints, their meat is well liked and they provide the most regular source of cash income. Small ruminants appear to be the most appropriate domestic animals to allow a real integration of the agricultural and livestock sub-sectors at the present time.
