This initiative builds on a renewed interest in promoting agricultural production and food security through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which seeks to fight poverty, end hunger and spur economic growth around the agriculture sector. Being able to understand and effect the policy changes required in the agriculture sector especially through evidence-based policy research interventions, is crucial. The CAADP therefore recognizes and emphasizes the need to strengthen capabilities, as well as the policy and institutional environments required to trigger agricultural transformation. Continue reading
Category Archives: Kenya
Power through: a new concept in the women empowerment discourse
The paper ‘Power through: A new concept in the empowerment discourse’ by Alessandra Galiè, a senior gender scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Cathy Rozel Farnworth, an independent researcher, offers a new perspective on the role of ‘power through’ in women’s empowerment. Continue reading
Nurturing a network of policy analysts in Kenyan agriculture
A new initiative in Kenya is seeking to empower scientists to be better translators of their research, with the aim of making agricultural policies and practices more science-based. It is implemented by ILRI in collaboration with Africa’s Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) and the Swedish-funded program Agriculture for Food Security 2030 (AgriFoSe2030). Continue reading
Gendered barriers and opportunities in milk trading in peri-urban Nairobi: Insights from a webinar presentation
The key findings indicate that milk business is more lucrative for men than for women due to gender-based constraints faced by women milk traders. For instance, access to and purchase of milk from producers is mainly favourable to men due to cultural norms that hinder women such as inability to travel to remote areas due to house chores and inappropriate means of transport (mainly motorbikes). Continue reading
Business-to-business forums spur economic growth in northern Kenya
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has been partnering and collaborating with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (EATIH) under the Partnership for Resilience and Economic Growth (PREG) to hold livestock trade facilitation (business-to-business) forums in five Kenyan counties. This initiative has been implemented in Nairobi, Marsabit, Wajir and Isiolo counties to promote more efficient trade between livestock buyers, sellers and producers. Continue reading
Celebrating achievements of women in livestock development at the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD@10) event
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) supports women in livestock development by ensuring that they benefit and are empowered through livestock. It does this by developing the capabilities of women to benefit from livestock production. Capabilities in this sense can range from developing capacities to access and use productivity technologies to developing aspirations for women to run livestock enterprises. This is in line with the institute’s strategic objective of increasing the capacity of ILRI and its key stakeholders to make better use of livestock science and investments for better lives through livestock. To enhance the capacity of its women scientists, ILRI has benefited from the African Women in Agricultural Research and D Continue reading
Achieving gender-equitable outcomes in low emissions development initiatives in the Kenyan dairy sector
Achieving global goals of lowering livestock’s greenhouse gas emissions is hinged on changing the practices (feeding, herd management and manure management) of smallholder households. Animal husbandry is characterized by gendered division of labour, resource control and decision-making power, with men mainly claiming ownership of animals while women provide labour. Farmers worldwide are known to be motivated to adopt practices that enhance productivity and profitability. Continue reading
Leveraging higher demand for livestock-derived foods to meet nutritional needs of the world’s poor
A recent study of the ‘Contributions of livestock-derived foods to nutrient supply under changing demand in low- and middle-income countries’ shows that demand for livestock-derived foods will grow substantially to year 2050 in eight countries that are currently facing food security and nutrient supply challenges. Continue reading
East African dairy farmers earning more from market linkages to milk processors
Researchers from ILRI studied the farm impacts of different types of linkages between smallholder dairy farmers and large processors through dairy hubs. Continue reading
Smallholder farmers’ preferences for artificial insemination services through dairy hubs
Despite the observed decline in the demand for artificial insemination (AI) services in recent years, farmers are willing to use AI if the quality of the services is improved to match their preferences. Continue reading