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Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The paper discusses a case study of the Trás-os-Montes region to assess the resilience and sustainability of the local sheep sector. The area is a low-density mountainous region where small ruminant production is a relevant sector of the economy and is mainly based on natural resources. The study employed a mixed methodological approach to identify the socio-economic profile of different actors and the main obstacles and opportunities of this livestock activity. The research found that the main strength of the sector is the intrinsic quality of the products with origin in the various indigenous sheep breeds. However, marketing channels associated with this mechanism are generally limited, and its market shares are minimal. The analysis highlights the constraints resulting from the holdings’ small average size, the advanced age of most farmers, the lack of successors, the low profitability of the lamb meat, and producers’ weak bargaining power. Also, wool's lack of economic interest is an economic and environmental problem for farmers.
Description
Keywords
Sheep Pastoralism Sustainability SWOT analysis Research Subject Categories::FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Cabo, Paula; Castro, Marina (2022). Challenges to the Sustainable Development of the Sheep Sector in Mediterranean Mountain Areas. In X Congresso da APDEA e o IV Encontro Lusófono em Economia, Sociologia, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Rural. Coimbra
Publisher
Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra