Area-Wide Integration (AWI) is a novel approach to integrate specialised livestock with cropping activities so that livestock are land-based rather than being a fortuitous component of urban industrial production system. AWI is a regional concept to better utilise periurban and rural land and to ensure a livestock industry that will be viable and competitive as we move into the next century. The concept of AWI is currently being investigated by FAO as a means of developing livestock-land use systems in East and Southeast Asia. The focus is on the better utilisation of land and other resources, environmental protection, food security, poverty alleviation, and public health. This approach is motivated by the fact that human population is increasing continually, and living standards and quality of life are also improving. As a consequence, the demand for quality and amount of animal food products, a better living environment and the need to expand urban boundaries beyond areas once occupied by producers of these animal products, need to be accommodated, to ensure the fundamental human need: equity, food security and environmental safety.
The rapid growth during the last two decades, both in population and economies, is largely due to industrial development. Attempts to meet food demands have been a hasty outcome rather than a planned development, with dire consequences to the environment and quality of life. The scenario today is the typical haphazard production units characterised by clustering around city centres (to gain access to markets), dependence on processed imported feeds, under-utilisation of important local feeds and agro-industrial by-products, closure of land-based farms and movement of rural population to cities. The consequence of these are rural poverty, government policy and institutional failures, and a fragile livestock industry. Demand, competition among producers, resource access and economies of scale have restricted the opportunities for family-based smallholder farms that still are the mainstay of animal production in most of Asia. While they may not continue into the future in their current form, the basic resource management principles could be adapted. Armed with modern scientific knowledge, novel approaches need to be designed to progressively re-populate rural areas with efficient farm units that are, within districts or watersheds, largely self-sustaining, diversified and integrated.
In view of this, a programme of action was formulated by FAO. One important step was a Workshop organised by FAO and held at its Regional Office in Bangkok from 18-20 June, 1998. The Workshop was moderated by Professor Tan Sri Syed Jalaludin from Universiti Putra Malaysia, and was attended by participants from several countries of Asia.
The objectives of this Workshop were to exchange experiences between participants of AWI case studies from different countries and to develop General Guidelines and Project Profiles for future implementation. In the long-term, the Workshop findings will provide an impetus to device novel approaches for animal agricultural development and link them with other sectors for rationalising agriculture.
By way of case studies, literature search and discussions, this Workshop focused on the various issues of AWI. Population growth, average real income growth and per capita income growth have added further strain on demands for animal products. Incentives to relocate (tax, infrastructure facilities), policy and institutional changes, the application of polluters-pay-principles, zoning and land tenure system (land lease to investors), application of tested technology on pollution control and models of appropriate integration packages, and education and training are vital areas to study further before implementation of the AWI concept. The wisdom to match feed resource availability, genotype and environment should form the cultural basis in the implementation process.
In his Introductory Presentation, Dr Steinfeld (FAO) drew attention to the conservation of natural resources such as land, water, air and biodiversity. Conservation of these natural resources is vital, there is costs associated with it that should be borne by consumers. The authorities through effective legislation should make sure that this is implemented for the benefit of present and future generations.
Having outlined some of the issues, the next question is how to overcome the problems and achieve the goals. At the farm level, some pertinent issues relate to identification of areas and zoning, criteria for identification of crop-livestock combinations and of suitable production systems. A prerequisite for the integration of crop-livestock is the creation of a database of relevant information and to identify knowledge gaps. In drawing up the project profiles on AWI, the means to close these gaps should be considered. At the regional level, logistic and legislative details should be formulated to address the various issues relating to infrastructure needs, policies and mode of implementation, responsibility of various agencies, and socio-economic research projects.
Arising from this Workshop, the follow up initiative is to prepare the General Guidelines for AWI implementation, derived from the discussions of the Workshop and from several resource persons at Universiti Putra Malaysia under the chairmanship of Professor Tan Sri Syed Jalaludin. This information will be made available in the FAO homepage for viewers from member countries. The third phase of this AWI initiative is the identification of key production systems for studies on integration and the formulation of Project Profiles. Five such Projects have been identified addressing issues of AWI in various locations prioritised by needs and production systems where development programmes will most contribute to the socio-economic status of the people, especially the disadvantaged. The Proceedings and recommendations of the Workshop in Bangkok are presented in this publication.
The members of the committee of this project at Universiti Putra Malaysia would like to acknowledge the support of FAO and thank the participants of the Workshop and the others who have made their contributions.
30 September, 1998.
