Assessing the environmental impacts of livestock and fish production

In late 2016, the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish produced several synthesis products, including a series of briefs on ex-ante environment impact assessment work carried out between 2012 and 2016. This brief introduces the justification for this work and the different streams of work to develop and test tools to assess the environmental impacts of livestock and fish production in developing countries. Continue reading →

Using the CLEANED approach to assess the environmental impacts of livestock production

In late 2016, the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish produced several synthesis products, including a series of briefs on ex-ante environment impact assessment work carried out between 2012 and 2016. One of the approaches was to develop the CLEANED (Comprehensive Livestock Environmental Assessment for Improved Nutrition, a Secured Environment and Sustainable Development along Livestock and Fish Value Chains) tool to help users explore and assess the multiple environmental impacts of intensifying livestock value chains in developing countries. Continue reading →

Gender-based constraints and opportunities to women’s participation in small ruminant value chains in Ethiopia

Using the Community Capitals Framework, this article explores the factors enhancing or constraining women’s access to, and control over, the resources required to participate in, and benefit from, small ruminant value chain activities. Continue reading →

Integrated delivery systems of improved livestock and fish genetics

The starting point for this brief is that weak public and private sector service delivery constrains translation of
genetic improvements into productivity gains for smallholder farmers in developing countries. It introduces integrated delivery systems as mechanisms to enhance farmer access and uptake of improved livestock and fish genetics. Continue reading →

Novel tools to inform animal breeding programs

The design of a livestock breeding program largely depends on adequate infrastructure—ranging from efficient collection of phenotypes, development of models, data analysis, program implementation to buy-in from the public and farmers. This key infrastructure is usually lacking in developing countries. Using novel tools that circumvent these constraints offers many opportunities to developing countries. However, this requires a range of scientific expertise not readily available, underlining the importance of collaboration between advanced universities and research institutes. Continue reading →

Using a value chain approach to focus animal genetic interventions

Using a value chain analysis framework, the Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program piloted integrated genetic interventions to catalyse the transformation of milk, meat and fish production in selected developing countries. This brief presents some outcomes and lessons from applying a value chain approach to dairy production in three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and fish production in Egypt. Continue reading →

Delivering animal breeding programs in developing countries: Some lessons from the Livestock and Fish program

Implementing sustainable livestock and fish breeding programs requires careful consideration of the species in question, their specific biological constraints, the production environment and the trait preferences of farmers, as well as a careful selection and use of innovative technology. Successful breeding programs rely on livestock keepers as co-owners of breeding programs as such programs are meant for them and they benefit from their full participation. Continue reading →

Maziwa Zaidi Program reflects on its annual progress and outlines way forward

The Maziwa Zaidi (MZ) program held a critical reflection workshop in November 2016 to analyse progress made against expected outcomes in its Theory of Change (ToC) over the last 12 months. Continue reading →

Ethiopian small ruminant keepers trained in ‘smart’ collective marketing

Over 400 farmers from the Menz area of North Shewa Zone in Amhara, Ethiopia attended a training on collective marketing to create a common understanding among farmers of what marketing groups are, why farmers need them, how they are formed and managed, and how such groups can be employed in small ruminant marketing. Continue reading →

Partnerships pay off for Uganda value chain project

The value chain work of the CGIAR Livestock and Fish Research Program relies on partnerships – with governments, national research, civil society and the private sector – to achieve its aims. In its Uganda smallholder value chain, the Program could not have achieved most of its objectives without the support that partnerships offer. This has been in the form of technical and financial support, human resources, infrastructure and knowledge sharing. Continue reading →