Odisha (formerly known as Orissa), an economically fast-growing state in eastern India, on the Bay of Bengal, is facing an emerging fodder crisis. The people of this state depend largely on agriculture for their livelihoods, and animal husbandry is widely practiced. One pathway out of of poverty for many here is to increase the efficiency and levels of their small-scale livestock production to meet the growing demand in India for more milk and meat. But without feed to give their cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminant animals, the state’s many millions of livestock producers will be unable to improve or increase their productivity. New results of a study by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) show that lack of adequate amounts and quality of fodder is one of the biggest constraints these farmers face. A solution, say ILRI scientists, is to make better use of the residues of rice and maize (paddy straw and maize stover) as supplementary livestock feed. Continue reading
Category Archives: ASSP
Animal Science for Sustainable Productivity program
Addressing gender dynamics in agricultural innovation platforms
Innovation platforms are widely used in agricultural research to connect different stakeholders to achieve common goals. This fourteenth brief reflects on ways that the needs and interests of women can be fully addresses in innovation platforms.
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Scaling and agricultural innovation platforms
Innovation platforms are widely used in agricultural research to connect different stakeholders to achieve common goals. This thirteenth brief reflects on some of issues and opportunities faced when innovation platforms – or the innovations they generate – are scaled out. Continue reading
N2Africa – ILRI joins forces with Hawassa University and national partners
To support the implementation of the N2Africa project in Ethiopia, ILRI has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Hawassa University Continue reading
Cassava processors visit ILRI cassava peel processing unit in Nigeria
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) research in Nigeria has resulted in shorter drying times of cassava peels from 3 days to about six sunshine hours. Two new products (feed ingredients) have been developed and are being standardized. Continue reading
Scaling out livestock research: Struggles and successes are key says feed innovation project
Scaling out research results for wider application and use is a goal of every research for development project in today’s CGIAR. It is also one of the most difficult things to achieve. Scaling out was on the agenda of recent end-of-project workshops of the IFAD-financed MilkIT project. At a recent workshop team members and partners listed out some of the critical success factors such a project needs to be able to scale out its results. Continue reading
Tanzania milk association (TAMPA) and research institute (TALIRI) laud MilkIT innovation platforms
Speaking exclusively to the “Daily News on Saturday”, the Tanzania Milk Processors Association Executive Secretary, Mr Edmond Mariki, said that innovation platforms used in the three-year MilkIT project that enhanced dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania through feed innovation and value chain development approaches is something they welcome. Continue reading
Ethiopia’s Livestock Master Plan makes a splash in the research community of the ‘African livestock giant’
The Ethiopia Livestock Master Plan is about the biggest piece of cooperation between the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Ethiopian Government for a very long time. The presentation that HE Dr Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, State Minister for Livestock Resources Development gave on 5 December 2014 made a splash for this all-important Plan for now and years to come. Continue reading
Breeding legumes for livestock feed (biomass) as well as human food (grain)
Cowpea fodder bundles stacked in Niger for livestock feed (photo credit: ILRI). ‘Of the many virtues of grain legumes, one is little recognized. Visitors to the livestock fodder markets of West Africa are always surprised to see groundnut and cowpea haulms (stalks and stems of legume plants) sold at prices that exceed that of cereal … Continue reading
Developing capacities to address gender in agricultural projects in Ethiopia
From 18-20 August, the Africa RISING project in Ethiopia joined forces with the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish to hold a gender training for staff and partners in both projects. Continue reading