The world’s climate is changing rapidly and Africa will be severely affected by this, not only because of the effects on ecosystems but also because of the low adaptive capacity of communities due to poverty and lack of infrastructure, services, and appropriate policies to support adaptation strategies. A large share of Africa’s poor are dependent … Continue reading
Shamsa Kosar, a beneficiary of Takaful livestock insurance payouts made in Wajir, northern Kenya, in March 2014. This novel insurance was made possible by an ILRI index-based livestock insurance research project in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia (photo credit: ILRI/Riccardo Gangale). ‘Takaful Insurance will pay livestock farmers about Sh500,000 for losses incurred during the December … Continue reading
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has commissioned research to ascertain the levels of aflatoxins in the milk consumed in Kenya. Studies say every Kenyan consumes over 145 litres annually-higher than other Africans – increasing the risk of milk-related aflatoxins. Continue reading
This working paper reviews and documents sheep research projects/activities in Ethiopia and provides an overview of major research outputs, dissemination of research results, impacts on the sheep industry, and the gaps in research. Thoughts on the future directions of sheep research are also presented. Sheep research and development in Ethiopia dates back to the early … Continue reading
Opinion piece by Pamela Anderson and Josh Lozman published in the Impatient Optimists Blog of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: ‘Food Security and Nutrition and the Post-2015 Development Goals’, 24 Mar 2014. Continue reading
Exotic and crossbred Dorper sheep are in high demand in Kajiado’s livestock markets, but keeping these high-producing exotic breeds alive and productive in these dry, drought-ridden, rangelands is difficult. Continue reading
Innovation platforms can enhance the relevance and impact of research; they also have many pitfalls. This project report from Wageningen UR examines ‘critical issues for reflection when designing and implementing research for development in innovation platforms.’ Continue reading
The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) just published a summary of land and water research, lessons and outcomes generated by the Nile Basin Development Challenge in Ethiopia. Continue reading
The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development opened a call to receive visiting researchers. Continue reading
This ILRI project report describes the characteristics of village chicken production and marketing, analyses its contributions to farmers’ livelihoods, and presents options for improving the traditional village breeding practices in Horro and Ada’a woredas in the central and western highlands of Ethiopia. For the survey, a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique was used which includes … Continue reading
ILRI Clippings 