Collaborators present preliminary study results on poultry and dairy farming in Bangladesh

Livestock-sector stakeholders in Bangladesh held a workshop to discuss key findings of ILRI-sponsored research on poultry and dairy farming.

The workshop titled ‘Demand-driven opportunities for transformation of the livestock sector: Role of contract farming and breeding’ was held on 24 May 2009 in the conference hall of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh.

The objective was to share the findings of three studies sponsored by ILRI with EU funding and implemented jointly with BAU and Bangabandhu Shaikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur.

These were on urban demand for livestock products with a focus on quality and safety attributes, and contract farming in poultry and dairy.

An additional survey was conducted on stakeholder perspectives on breeding strategy and choice of breeds, which was not in the original work plan and this was also presented.

Over 70 participants attended the workshop which drew representatives from universities, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Department of Livestock Services, research institutes and private-sector NGOs as well as several small-scale commercial poultry and dairy farmers.

Dr Mohammad Jabbar welcomed the participants on behalf of ILRI and made a brief presentation describing the background and importance of the studies and the mode of collaboration with BAU and BSMRAU.

Dr Jabbar is the immediate former leader of the Changing Demand and Market Institutions Operating Project in the Markets Theme. He is now based in Bangladesh and works with the theme as a consultant on a number of projects.

The workshop was opened by Mr Mohammad Shah Alam, Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Prof M A S Mandal, Vice Chancellor of BAU, Prof T H Miah, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, and Prof Habibur Rahman, study coordinator and workshop organizer also spoke at the opening session.

They all lauded the studies, considering them timely given the on-going commercialization of poultry and dairy activities in Bangladesh.

Four papers were presented in the business session covering the key findings of the studies.

The findings were considered very useful under the current dynamics of the livestock sector and the results generated lively discussion and debate.

There was not enough time for in-depth presentation of results and more detailed discussion.

However, one jointly printed publication, two draft reports and one paper presentation were distributed to the participants so that they could have access to the full study reports.

The draft reports will be reviewed and formally published in due course.

AGRA-ILRI international conference clarifies priority actions needed to develop markets for African smallholders

A major international conference, held 13–15 May 2009 in Nairobi, brought together 150 of the world’s and Africa’s leading scholars and development experts to clarify priority actions that must be taken to unleash the potential of the continent’s smallholder agricultural sector.

The conference was sponsored by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, AGRA's Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, makes his opening remarks. ILRI's Markets Theme Director, Steve Staal, is seated second left. Kenya's Agriculture Minister, Hon. William Ruto, is seated far right.

The tone for the conference was set by Kenya’s Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable William Ruto, who opened the meeting by challenging the group to identify and prioritize concrete actions that will, over time, lead to more efficient and effective markets that bring benefits both to producers and consumers across Africa.

The ensuing and often lively debate and discussions led to a number of key conference outcomes that will be made widely available in the near future.

Conference participants comprised a wide range of representatives from all along (and beyond) the African agricultural value chain.

Ravi Prabhu facilitates one of the discussions. Ravi is the Coordinator of the CGIAR Regional Plan for Collective Action in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Alliance of the CGIAR centres.

Intergovernmental and sub-regional bodies in Africa, including NEPAD, CAADP, COMESA and ASARECA, served as featured speakers and participated in panel discussions and numerous parallel working sessions.

International funding agencies, including the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Bank contributed early and often to conference discussions.

The UN World Food Programme, along with a wide range of private/public sector organizations – including bankers, agro-dealers, seed companies, grain councils, national commodity exchanges and farmers associations – were vital contributors to shaping the debate.

Representatives from leading universities dealing with market development issues, such as Cornell University, the University of Colombia, Michigan State University, the University of Leuven, the University of Zambia and Montpellier University, shared results from recent market research done by them and others in academia.

And a number of CGIAR and affiliated organizations, including ILRI, CIAT-TSBF, CIMMYT, IFPRI, ICRISAT, IITA, ICRAF and IFDC contributed their experience and perspectives on the issues being discussed.

In closing the conference, AGRA President Dr Namanga Ngongi, stressed the importance of bringing together such a diverse group of development specialists to clarify what needs to be done next, when and by whom in order to develop Africa’s local, national and regional markets.

Concrete actions that will promote the ability of these markets to absorb the fruits of smallholder productivity increases are essential, Dr Ngongi noted.

The right actions by key players involved in building markets across the continent will reinforce the growing momentum for a uniquely African Green Revolution and, in so doing, help increase food security and reduce poverty for millions.

For more information, please visit the conference website http://agmarketsafrica.wordpress.com

Meeting of the minds: Participants at the AGRA-ILRI Conference "Towards priority actions for market development for African farmers"