Abstract:
The study was generally intended to estimate the effectiveness of Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development (LIMID) programme in improving the welfare of the rural poor in Boteti Sub-District Botswana. Specifically, the study was carried to determine the main challenges encountered by small stock producers during and after application for LIMID programme, and further determine the factors influencing the decision of rural farmers to participate in the LIMID programme and finally to estimate the effect of LIMID programme on the household welfare of the small stock producers. Primary data was collected from 150 respondents who were selected using multistage sampling techniques and data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, probit regression, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) analytical techniques were used in analysing the collected data. Factors that significantly influenced the decision of effective participation of small stock producers in the programme are gender of the farmer, household income, age of the farmer, positive perception about the programme, the use of supplementary feeds, education level and the distance to LIMID office. Meanwhile, factors that were found to significantly affect the household expenditure are household income, gender of the household head, age of the household head, education level, type of labour used, distance to nearby cattle post and the distance to inputs. The average age for the small stock farmers was found to be 45 years with majority of farmers being women at 57.3% while men were 43.7%. The LIMID programme has positively impacted and empowered the resource poor households, as revealed by PSM results. Beneficiaries spent an annual average of P12313.80 (1152.05 US$), and it was higher than that of the non-beneficiaries which was P11237.86 (US$ 1082.86). Average Treatment on the Treated (ATT) was P1074.94 (100.67) US$. Therefore participating in LIMID programme has increased the average household consumption expenditure of the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries need to be encouraged to take care of their mall stock as participating in LIMID programme significantly improved their household‟s welfare.
