Financing livestock services in some countries of East and southern Africa

The role of the livestock sector in the six economies and the size of the recurrent expenditure on livestock services are briefly discussed. Staff and non-staff expenditures and the sources and methods of financing, including revenues collected from service fees and sale of veterinary requisites, are compared across countries. Some preliminary measures of the adequacy of the existing financing situation are discussed. Seen in conjunction with an earlier, similar study of West Africa, the study shows that East and southern African countries: have increased recurrent expenditures on livestock services at a considerably faster rate than have West African countries; have allocated a more adequate portion of the total budget for non-staff expenditures (as have small countries in contrast to large in both geographic groups); apply user fees to finance services on a more widespread basis; and focus on increasing low-level staff rather than mid-level staff. Included are 18 tables offering data on expenditures and a list of 30 references (1976-84).