For pastoralist communities like the well-known Maasai in Kenya, livestock keeping is more than just an important source of food and income; it’s a way of life that has been a part of their culture and traditions for hundreds of years. But, in the face of drought, loss of traditional grazing grounds, and pressure from … Continue reading
Category Archives: Africa
Millions face hunger in arid belt of Africa
At this time of year, the Gadabeji Reserve in Niger should be refuge for the nomadic tribes who travel across a moonscape on the edge of the Sahara to graze their cattle. But the grass is meager after a drought killed off the last year’s crops. Now the cattle are too weak to stand and … Continue reading
BecA hosts ‘Agricultural Research Connections Workshop 2010′
This workshop by Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) brought together scientists based in sub-Saharan Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom to foster scientific collaborations with the potential to create new pathways … Continue reading
BecA: Fostering the next generation of African agricultural scientists
After more than 25 years of sojourn in the United States of America and Latin America that saw her garner numerous professional and state honours for an exceptionally fulfilling career as a scientist, Segenet Kelemu, executive director of the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) Hub decided it was time to go home. At BecA … Continue reading
Keeping the Maasai farmers alive when the pop stars have all gone
The Edinburgh-based charity GALVmed has brought hope to Maasai communities in Tanzania hit by East Coast fever, a livestock disease that kills 19 out of 20 calves It is a little after dawn in the Masai district of Engarenaibor in northwestern Tanzania. Amid a pre-historic landscape of rolling grassland and acacia trees, Paolo Lemorongo, a … Continue reading
Cattle milk and meat production and marketing systems and opportunities for market-orientation in Fogera woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia
This working paper by Belete Anteneh, Azage Tegegne, Fekadu Beyene and Berhanu Gebremedhin on Cattle milk and meat production and marketing systems and opportunities for market-orientation in Fogera woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia was released on 26 May, 2010 This study was conducted in Fogera woreda, South Gondar Zone of the Amhara National Regional State in … Continue reading
Countdown to rinderpest eradication: a role model or a lucky break?
Professor Brian Perry reports from his base in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Read more (Dick Vet News) Continue reading
Post-graduate fellowships for African scientists at ILRI
With generous funding support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), ILRI is offering five Ph.D scholarships for livestock researchers from sub-Saharan African countries. ILRI invites applicants from young African scientists, based at the research and learning institution. The priority research themes are: Climate change, impacts and adaptation Livestock, environment and sustainability Emerging diseases, impacts … Continue reading
ILRI to build climate model to predict disease outbreaks
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), has received a $4.4 million award for research to build a climate model that can predict outbreaks of infectious disease in Africa. ILRI will work with 11 partners and researchers to integrate data from climate modeling and disease … Continue reading
Results-based monitoring and evaluation for organizations working in agricultural development: a guide for practitioners
This manual by Berhanu Gebremedhin, Abraham Getachew and Rebeka Amha on Results-based monitoring and evaluation for organizations working in agricultural development: a guide for practitioners was released on 12 May, 2010 The purpose of this guide for practitioners is to contribute to the development of RBM&E capacity and to facilitate its institutionalization in organizations dealing … Continue reading