Dryland cereals and legumes are important crops in farming systems across the world. Yet they are frequently neglected among the priorities for international agricultural research and development, often due to lack of information on their magnitude and extent. Given what we know about the global distribution of dryland cereals and legumes, what regions should be high priority for research and development to improve livelihoods and food security? This research evaluated the geographic dimensions of these crops and the farming systems where they are found worldwide.

This study has undertaken to describe the sheep and goat production and marketing systems and identify constraints to and improvement options for smallholder farms of Alaba, southern Ethiopia. Results are based on survey of 150 sample households and rapid appraisal of major sheep and goat markets. Flock distribution and holdings in different parts of the woreda vary and thus the study sites were stratified into mixed sheep-goat flock, goat dominating and sheep dominating sites. Average family size of the study area was 6.7. Literacy of household heads accounts 30%.

The study was conducted in Goma district of Jimma Zone of Ethiopia with objectives of generating baseline information and identifying challenges and opportunities of small ruminant production and marketing. Results are based on diagnostic survey of 160 sample households, group discussions, monitoring of 36 flocks and rapid appraisal of major sheep and goat markets. The study district was stratified into three groups based on flock distribution as: sheep dominating, goat dominating and mixed flock sites. The average land holding per household was 1.93 ha.

Small Ruminants production, producer’s traits preferences and marketing system in agro- ecologies (AEZs) of Ada Barga and Ejere districts were under taken to characterize production system, reproduction performance, traits preferred for breeding as well as marketing and to document constraints of central highland sheep and goat in its environment. These two districts were selected based on potential for small ruminant production.