Last week, African Ministers responsible for animal resources met in Uganda. The theme of the meeting was “improving access to markets for African animal resources to significantly contribute to economic growth and reduction of poverty.” H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime , Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission opened the meeting, arguing … Continue reading
Category Archives: Crop-Livestock
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)
Africa / Agriculture / Asia / Crop-Livestock / Livestock / Research / Uganda
The future of agricultural research for development
There is no doubt that in the last 50 years, agricultural science has helped to overcome the threat of famine for billions of people. But a billion remain undernourished and the spectre of poverty remains. With climate change, rising food prices and a burgeoning global population, the demands on agriculture to become more efficient and … Continue reading
Mixed crop-livestock farming could help adaptation in Africa
According to new research (see related article), African farms with both crops and livestock could be more resilient to climate change than farms that only grow crops. The research suggests that policy makers should support farmers in making the switch to integrated farming. Read more … (European Commission) Continue reading
Is an integrated farm more resilient against climate change?
This paper by S. Niggol Seo in the journal ‘Food Policy’ examines whether an integrated farm that owns both crops and livestock is more resilient under global warming than a specialized farm in crops. Using around 9000 farm surveys across Africa, we explore how farmers choose one of the farm types and how the net … Continue reading
Livestock, feed and food security
Tara Garnett of the FCRN examines “some of the arguments surrounding the relationship between what we feed and how we rear farm animals, and the availability and accessibility of food for human consumption. Does livestock production foster or hinder food security? In what ways are the contributions of intensive and extensive systems to food security … Continue reading
Smallholder farmers hold the key to global food security
Sustainably increasing production in mixed crop-livestock systems is essential to ensure food security, write M. Herrero and colleagues in Science. Mixed crop-livestock systems are home to two-thirds of the global population and produce almost half the world’s cereals and most of the staple crops, meat and milk consumed by poor people. But to cope with … Continue reading
Climate Change / Crop-Livestock / East Africa / ILRI / Kenya / Tanzania / Uganda
Africa: Finding the food crops of the future
Temperatures seem set to soar to perilously high levels because of climate change. In another 40 years, would maize still be the staple food in Kenya, already hit by five failed rainy seasons? If not, what could people grow and eat? And if you could grow maize, how much water and fertilizer would it need? … Continue reading
Towards a more sustainable livestock sector
FAO report analyzes the rapidly changing global livestock production Urgent investments, major agricultural research efforts and robust governance are required to ensure that the world’s livestock sector responds to a growing demand for animal products and at the same time contributes to poverty reduction, food security, environmental sustainability and human health, FAO said today in … Continue reading
Smallholder farmers hold the key to global food security
While a lot of money is being pumped into agriculture in a bid to boost production and alleviate hunger in the world, these efforts are unlikely to succeed without focusing on mixed smallholder farmers, a new study has warned. The study, which puts countries like Kenya––long criticised for neglecting the smallholders––on the spot, says smallholders … Continue reading
Food security under threat
A new science paper, published on Thursday, has warned that plans to fund programmes to boost small-scale agriculture in developing countries with billions of dollars are unlikely to succeed. This is due to increasing populations, changing environments and “intellectual commitment” to ubiquitous small-scale and mixed farmers who raise both crops and animals. “In most regions of … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 