Improved reproductive techniques enable effective use of superior rams in Ethiopia’s community-based sheep breeding programs

Genetic improvement of small ruminants has been identified as a “best bet” in Ethiopia’s highland areas. As part of the Livestock and Fish small ruminant value chain development activities in Ethiopias, community-based breeding programs established through an earlier project (located in Horro, Menz, Bonga and Abergelle) were strengthened and new ones were established in Atsbi and Doyogena. Continue reading →

Uganda pig feed trials show benefits of local feed solutions

As part of a research intervention aimed at alleviating the feed crunch for Uganda’s smallholder pig producers, the University of Guelph’s Department of Population Medicine, in partnership with ILRI, tested novel pig diets using locally available crop residues and feedstuffs to determine the difference (if any) in the average daily gain in weight of pigs fed on a silage-based ration, or a ration using local feedstuffs and if these differ from ADG of pigs fed commercial feed. Continue reading →

Linking farmers to value chains in Uganda

ILRI and partners have been undertaking research into the factors influencing the successful inclusion of small farmers in modern value chains around the Lake Victoria Basin area in Uganda. This research is funded by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) as part of a research grant on inclusive value chains. Continue reading →

Influencing policies on the pig sector and broader livestock sector policies in Vietnam

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) projects in Vietnam are contributing to influencing policy on the pig sector and broader livestock sector policies in Vietnam in a number of ways. Below are some examples of this. Continue reading →

Linking small dairy producers to dynamic markets: Three business models from Kenya

This post introduces three business models for linking smallholder livestock farmers to dynamic markets in Kenya. Continue reading →

Capacity development for sustainable food security: Role of public private partnerships

Improving value chains performance is high on the agenda of Livestock and Fish country value chain programs. Public-private partnerships can identify stakeholders with a significant interest in value chain programing, allowing for mutual trust building and understanding to accommodate different roles, responsibilities, interests, joint design and co-delivery of research for development work. Continue reading →

Reviews highlight successes and challenges of Tanzania dairy innovation platforms

Recent reviews of capacity building training of dairy innovation platforms in Tanga and Morogoro in Tanzania highlights key opportunities and challenges in efforts to improve dairy production in the country. Continue reading →

Fish value chain assessment in Bangladesh paves the way for future interventions

WorldFish scientists and partners have commenced a fish value chain assessment and social and gender analysis of some of Bangladesh’s most important farmed fish species for poor consumers and producers: tilapia, rohu carp, silver carp and mola. Continue reading →

New biogas plant improves waste management in Kampala pig abattoir

On 25 February 2015, a newly-constructed biogas plant was handed over to the Wambizzi cooperative as one of the outputs of the smallholder pig value chain projects in Uganda. Construction of the plant was funded by Irish Aid through the ‘More Pork For and By the Poor’ project and by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) through the Safe Food, Fair Food project, both or which are implemented by ILRI in collaboration with Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB) Continue reading →

Improving fish health management in Egypt

WorldFish recently hosted a seminar on “Fish Health Management”, organized in partnership with the feed company Skretting, on 16 December 2014 at WorldFish’s Abbassa Research Center in Sharkia, Egypt. The meeting brought together more than one hundred participants including fish farmers, hatchery owners, aquaculture experts, researchers, consultants and equipment suppliers. Continue reading →