Diverging Discourses: Animal Health Challenges and Veterinary Care in Northern Uganda

Area of Science:

• Agricultural economics
• Veterinary public health
• Development studies

Background:

• Post-conflict recovery in northern Uganda emphasizes livelihood security through pig investment.
• Animal health challenges pose significant risks to smallholder farmers' income and livestock.
• Dominant development narratives in policy and education shape veterinary support structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the structure of veterinary support and its dominant development narratives.
• To analyze how discourses and practices impact smallholders' ability to treat sick animals.
• To examine the role of paraprofessionals in rural animal health service delivery.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of policy documents guiding the veterinary sector.
• Interviews with faculty, veterinarians, and paraprofessionals in Uganda.
• Ethnographic fieldwork in smallholder farming communities.

Main Results:

• A shared discourse among researchers, veterinarians, and policymakers frames smallholder commercialization as key to poverty reduction, overlooking other challenges.
• The public veterinary sector is under-resourced, making paraprofessionals essential for farmers lacking access.
• Paraprofessionals are often negatively framed as "quacks," diminishing their vital role in animal healthcare.

Conclusions:

• Collaboration between veterinarians and paraprofessionals is needed for improved animal health and smallholder livelihoods.
• A better understanding of smallholders' needs is crucial for effective agricultural development.
• Challenging dominant discourses about paraprofessionals can enhance their integration into animal health systems.