Solutions for sustainable livestock production in Asia

Rice is central to food security in Asia. The domestication of rice in Asia is well known, and its reliable supply continues to be a key component of food security strategies in the region. Indonesian health officials visit a residential area to search for backyard chickens in Jakarta, 24 February 2006 (Photo: Reuters/Crack Palinggi). Less well known is that chickens and pigs were also domesticated in Asia and that livestock continue to play a key role in its cultures and economies. According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, access to animal-source food for women and children is also important to achieving good health and nutrition. The organisation states that in Southeast Asia, complementary diets are usually rice-based and tend to contain small amounts of animal-source foods. This limits access to quality protein and micronutrients — which contributes to long-term negative health outcomes.