Category Archives: Africa

National livestock sector policies and planning under a changing global economy
Africa / CCAFS / Climate Change / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / PIL / policy / Report / South Asia / Southeast Asia / Value Chains / West Africa

National livestock sector policies and planning under a changing global economy

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The production and demand of livestock derived foods (LDFs) could change substantially in the future in many LMICs following major changes in global economic and climate conditions. A recent report assesses a standard global model’s projections of livestock production and the demand for LDFs in Ethiopia, Niger, Rwanda, Cambodia, Nepal and Burkina Faso in 2050. Continue reading →

Assessing sustainability of smallholder dairy and traditional cattle milk production systems in Tanzania
Africa / Dairying / Livelihoods / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / PIL / policy / Research / Tanzania

Assessing sustainability of smallholder dairy and traditional cattle milk production systems in Tanzania

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Both in the scientific community and the media, there are a lot of talks about sustainable livestock systems, what they are and how to promote them. A sustainable farming system is one which is economically viable, socially acceptable, environmentally friendly and transferable to the future generations. But achieving sustainable smallholder milk production systems in developing countries, including Tanzania, is limited by many constraints including low cow productivity, shortage of feed, limited access to inputs and outputs markets and degradation of natural resources. Continue reading →

Celebrating achievements of women in livestock development at the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD@10) event
Africa / Capacity strengthening / Event / Gender / Kenya / Livelihoods / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / PIL / policy / Research / Women

Celebrating achievements of women in livestock development at the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD@10) event

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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 →

Leveraging higher demand for livestock-derived foods to meet nutritional needs of the world’s poor
Africa / Agriculture / Capacity strengthening / Crop-Livestock / Gender / Impact Assessment / Kenya / Knowledge and Information / Livelihoods / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / Nutrition / PIL / policy / Research / Smallholder / Vulnerability / Women

Leveraging higher demand for livestock-derived foods to meet nutritional needs of the world’s poor

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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 →

Africa / ILRI / Intensification / Livelihoods / Livestock / LIVESTOCKCRP / Markets / PIL / policy / Research / Smallholder

Trade-offs in sustainable intensification of smallholder livestock systems: Balancing benefits for farmers and stakeholders

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According to the study, the attainment of a common ground is realized by recognizing the diverging views of stakeholders and the basics of decision-making in complex systems. This way of thinking ought to be a part of everyday practice. Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Capacity strengthening / CapDev / Ethiopia / ILRI / LIVESTOCKCRP / PIL / PIM / Value Chains

Value chains learning hubs workshop: co-creating solutions for eastern and southern Africa

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On 31 October and 1 November 2017, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), welcomed over 20 value chains professionals and experts in ILRI’s Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) campus to discuss the current value chains situation and to work together on defining a path forward. Continue reading →

Africa / East Africa / Ethiopia / Gender / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Livelihoods / PIL / WLE

Stakeholder involvement, knowledge, and gender norms key for effective rainwater management

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A three-year Nile Basin Development Challenge Program running from 2010-2013 piloted an integrated RWM approach that combined technologies/practices, policies and institutions and involved multiple stakeholders. Researchers from ILRI conducted a study to establish the effect of this integrated RWM approach on stakeholders’ knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices. Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Article / Dairying / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Livelihoods / Livestock / LIVESTOCK-FISH / PIL / Research / Value Chains

Smallholder farmers’ preferences for artificial insemination services through dairy hubs

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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 →

Africa / Animal Health / Disease Control / East Africa / LIVESTOCK-FISH / PIL / Project / Tanzania / Vaccines

Expanding distribution, increasing reach: More East Coast Fever vaccine distributors in Tanzania now accredited

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Tanzania has been reported to have the third largest livestock population on the African continent comprising 25 million cattle. However, cattle keepers in the country face several challenges that impede their productivity, most notably diseases. As such, access to effective methods of preventing, controlling and/or treating cattle diseases is key. East Coast Fever (ECF) is … Continue reading →

Africa / ILRI / PIL / PIM / Southern Africa / Swaziland / Value Chains

Call for abstracts: International conference on livestock value chain finance and access to credit

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In February 2017, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (SWADE) and the Micro Finance Unit, Swaziland (MFU) are organizing an international conference on livestock value chain finance and access to credit. Continue reading →