Category Archives: Intensification

Under Sustainable intensification in smallholder crop/livestock systems, we work to improve system efficiency through better feed quality, health and animal performance – in a context of increasing competition for land and other resources (eg biofuels)

Biotechnology / East Africa / Food security / Intensification / Kenya / Opinion piece / PA / Policy

Kenya’s newly elected government advised to be bullish on agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified foods

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Cynthia Onzere, a staff member in the animal biotechnology laboratories of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in Nairobi, Kenya (photo credit: ILRI/Evelyn Katingi). ‘A newly elected government provides a country with a rare opportunity for a fresh start—and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nomination this week of Felix Kiptarus Kosgey to become Kenya’s next Cabinet Secretary … Continue reading »

Event / ILRI / Intensification / MarketOpps / Markets / PA / Pakistan / Partnerships / South Asia / Value Chains

ILRI and Lahore livestock institute talk collaboration for development of Pakistan’s livestock sector

Posted on by • 2 Comments

A farmer herds his cattle in Sindh Province, Pakistan. Some 30–35 million rural Pakistanis are engaged in livestock raising, with families typically keeping 2–3 cattle or water buffalo and 5–6 sheep or goats, which help them to generate 30–40% of their household income from livestock; find this and more recent information on Pakistan’s livestock sector here (photo … Continue reading »

Climate Change / Event / Intensification

Sustainable intensification – pathway to low carbon farming?

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Scotland’s Rural College is organising an international conference in September 2013 to debate key issues surrounding sustainable intensification. This event will bring together natural scientists, social scientists, farm advisers and policy makers to discuss and debate the vital issues and explore how we can feed the rapidly expanding world whilst saving the environment. Key scientific … Continue reading »

Agri-Health / Animal Production / Emerging Diseases / Food Safety / Health (human) / ILRI / Intensification / Livestock Systems / MarketOpps / PA / Pigs / Poultry

Misuse of antibiotics and ‘factory farming’ of animals: Alarm bells sound

Posted on by • 1 Comment

‘The Spoonful of Milk’ by Marc Chagall, 1912 (via WikiPaintings). ‘. . . It is estimated that about 70% of the world’s antibiotics are fed to farm animals: the precise amount used in agriculture is poorly recorded. But what seems sure — as the number of intensively farmed animals grows — is that their use increases too, … Continue reading »

Agriculture / Animal Production / Capacity Strengthening / Crop-Livestock / CRP12 / CRP37 / East Africa / Ethiopia / Event / Extension / Innovation Systems / Intensification / IPMS / Livestock / Markets / Research / Value Chains

Commodities, innovation and action research in Ethiopia: Livestock live talk at ILRI on 27 March 2013

Posted on by • 1 Comment

The Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers project is coming to an end. IPMS aimed to transform agricultural productivity and rural development in Ethiopia through market-oriented agricultural development. Project staff worked with the Ethiopian Government to try new and innovative approaches and technologies. The team worked to achieve this objective through four main … Continue reading »

Dairying / Drylands / Feeds / ILRI / Intensification / Launch / PA / Pakistan / Pastoralism / Project / Small Ruminants / South Asia

Four-year US$30-million Agricultural Innovation Project launched in Pakistan

Posted on by • 2 Comments

A flock of Makhi Cheeni goats near Hasilpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan (photo credit: ILRI/M Sajjad Khan). ‘The US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) launched a new project to expand the use of modern technologies in Pakistan’s agriculture sector. ‘PARC Chairman Dr … Continue reading »

Innovation Systems / Livelihoods / Research / Crop-Livestock / ILRI / PLE / Diagnostics / Intensification / Interview / Humid Tropics / CRP12

ILRI in the Humidtropics research program: Interview with Alan Duncan

Posted on by • Leave a comment

The Humidtropics research program held a Strategic Research Theme (SRT) Meeting from 5 to 8 February, 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.  The main objective of this meeting was to develop a research framework for each of the SRTs. After the meeting, the five SRT Leaders were interviewed. We asked Alan Duncan, ILRI focal point for the program … Continue reading »

Article / CRP4 / East Africa / Film and video / ILRI / Intensification / Interview / Kenya / MarketOpps / PA / Zoonotic Diseases

The profits of livestock farming in Nairobi’s slums: Better health and wealth

Posted on by • 1 Comment

Sheep look for food outside the house of Josephine Napkonde, 78, who lives in a slum in Nairobi and looks after 5 children abandoned by a relative (photo on Flickr by HelpAge International/Frederic Courbet). ‘Kahawa Soweto is a slum on the northeast edge of Nairobi, Kenya. . . . It’s a densely packed area, and it’s not … Continue reading »

Agriculture / East Africa / Ethiopia / ILRI / Intensification / Launch / Livestock-Water / PA / Pro-Poor Livestock / Project / Value Chains / Water

New project promises better ‘LIVES’ for Ethiopia’s livestock and irrigation farmers

Posted on by • Leave a comment

A baseline survey was conducted for the Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project in Sidama (Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region), Ethiopia (photo credit: ILRI/Kettema Yilma). ‘The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) have launched a new project called “Livestock and [Irrigation] Value Chains for … Continue reading »

Animal Feeding / Crop residues / Dairying / East Africa / Goats / ILRI / Intensification / Kenya / MarketOpps / PA / Pigs / Project / Rwanda / Tanzania

Sweet potato–sweet solution: Food for people, feed for animals

Posted on by • Leave a comment

Cassava, potato and sweet potato  trials at high altitude in Rwanda (photo credit: ILRI/Albert Mwangi). ‘Pressures from climate change and population growth are increasing the competition for grains as food or livestock feed in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. But sweet potato, which can grow in harsh climatic conditions with minimal inputs, can provide … Continue reading »