Livestock production is an important economic activity in East Africa; especially for people living in areas where climate makes crop production risky or unviable. The vast majority of all livestock production comes from the herds and flocks of peasants and pastoralists and while only a small proportion of this reaches officialy recognized markets, that part which does considerably outweighs the production of large-scale ranches and farms.
This book starts with an analysis of different aspects of livestock production in Kenya and Tanzania and continues with an historical account of the development of important sub-sectors and the relation to state policy. Its purpose, apart from collecting and presenting information about livestock production, is to question some very dubious assumptions which form part of the basis of official thinking. Beyond that, its purpose is justified to broaden discussion about the whole area of livestock policy by introducing problems and processes not commonly considered by policy-makers.