Africa / Capacity Strengthening / CapDev / ILRI / Livestock / Research / Southern Africa

Status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in southern Africa and priorities for ILRI’s support

This Status Report by Sikhalazo Dube on Status of postgraduate training in the livestock sector in southern Africa and priorities for ILRI’s support was released on 22 December, 2009. One of the five objectives of ILRI‘s Capacity Strengthening Strategy is to facilitate building sustainable capacity of institutes to build capacity. This could only be achieved … Continue reading

Asia / Cattle / Livestock / Southern Africa

ACTESA urges Africa to raise meat exports

ALLIANCE for Commodity and Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has said Africa’s share in meat exports has continued to remain less than one per cent. According ACTESA manager for Livestock Programmes Abdiweli Mohamed, this is despite an increase in global demand for meat. “There is therefore need for African countries to put in … Continue reading

Africa / Agriculture / Innovation Systems / Research / Southern Africa / Value Chains

Innovation systems help put technologies into farmer context

Speaking at the December 2009 CGIAR System-wide Livestock Programme meeting in Addis Ababa, Andre Van Rooyen (ICRISAT) explained the ‘innovation platform’ approach they use to engage with smallholder farmers in Southern Africa. “Our hypothesis is that farmers will only invest in improved technologies when they are part of an effective marketing system.” ‘Innovation platforms allow … Continue reading

Africa / Animal Health / ILRI / Livestock / Research / Southern Africa

Livestock, just what the vet ordered

Harare — GLOBALLY, livestock farming is fast becoming agriculture’s most economically important sub-sector with demand for animal products projected to double over the next 20 years, especially in the developing countries, findings by the International Livestock Research Institute have indicated. It is against this backdrop that developing economies need to direct their focus on research … Continue reading

Africa / Animal Diseases / Animal Health / Livestock / RVF / Southern Africa / Tanzania / UK / Zoonotic Diseases

Southern African centre to monitor infectious diseases affecting humans and animals

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) announced that “deadly diseases including plague, Ebola and Rift Valley Fever are being targeted as part of a new multi-million pound international partnership involving African researchers and the RVC as part of the London International Development Centre (LIDC). The Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) links medical and … Continue reading

Africa / Animal Diseases / Livestock / Namibia / Southern Africa

Foot and mouth disease not such a big deal—in Namibia

Farmers in nothern Namibia are kept from accessing international markets because of an irrational fear surrounding foot and mouth disease (FMD), said Dr Gavin Thomson, representative of the SADC FMD project in Botswana. Speaking at the 46th annual Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) Congress, Thomson said foot and mouth disease is a manufactured plague. Read more: (Namibia … Continue reading

Africa / Southern Africa

ACTESA – Organization for East African farmers

COMESA announced the creation of the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), which should help farmers to address their problems during rough times. During the second congress of the East African Farmers’ Federation (EAFF) in Arusha, Tanzania the creation of  ACTESA was hailed as the most significant development in regional agriculture … Continue reading