This report was generated to serve as a reference document for Musika Development Initiatives (Musika) and its implementing partners.
Despite facing rampant disease outbreaks, the majority of the smallholder livestock producers in Zambia have insufficient access to veterinary services and extension on improved animal health practices. To address this, Musika supported the development of commercial linkages between veterinary firms and the rural livestock farmers. Through a cost-share arrangement, Musika provided both equipment and logistical support that would enable the firms provide an extension-based sales model or a bundle of services to the rural livestock market, which includes veterinary products, extension services and genetic and nutrition services. It was hypothesized that the initiative would create shared value in that it would derive economic value for the firms while at the same time increase farmers’ herd health, livestock productivity and ultimately income from livestock. After four years of implementing these initiatives, Musika conducted a comparative analysis that aimed to examine the extent of shared-value in the intervention areas against non-intervention areas. To do this, the survey collected data on cattle production from farming households in the user group (program beneficiaries) and non-user group (non-beneficiaries), as well as data on business performance from a veterinary MPF that is serving the rural livestock farmers. The study was conducted in two districts in Southern Province. Understanding the extent of shared value in the smallholder livestock market is critical for scaling successful business models and guiding implementation efforts.