New journal article: Consumer demand for sheep and goat meat in Kenya

A recently published study on consumer demand for sheep and goat meat in Kenya has found that a niche market exists for these products among consumers in two key production and market locations in the country.

The study, published in an article in the May 2010 issue of Small Ruminant Research, sought to investigate patterns of consumption of small ruminants' meat in Kenya and the factors influencing consumer demand for these products.

Data from 103 households were collected in Marsabit  District, a semi-arid region where small ruminant production is a major economic activity, and Kiamaiko area in the capital city Nairobi, a key market for sheep and goats from Marsabit.

Over 55 per cent of sampled households preferred sheep and goat meat over beef. Purchase price of small ruminant meat, household location, and share of monthly income spent on food were among the factors identified to play a role in influencing consumer demand for sheep and goat meat.

Producers need to be aware of the existing and potential demand for sheep and goat meat so as to be able to respond appropriately to consumers' needs and ensure access to markets, the authors conclude.

Dr Isabelle Baltenweck, an agricultural economist with ILRI's Market Opportunities theme, is a co-author of the journal article.

Read the abstract here.

Citation
Juma GP, Ngigi M, Baltenweck I and Drucker AG. 2010. Consumer demand for sheep and goat meat in Kenya. Small Ruminant Research 90(1-3): 135-138.

New journal article: Predictive model developed to improve rinderpest control in Somalia

A newly developed predictive model shows potential to improve surveillance and control of rinderpest in central and southern Somalia.

The model combines spatial and network factors to identify point locations and areas with high risk of presence of rinderpest. These are then used to generate a risk map that can help in prioritizing disease surveillance and control activities. This is particularly important in Somalia where veterinary resources are scarce.

In addition to improving surveillance efforts for rinderpest, the integration of spatial and network parameters in the model allows for its application to other livestock species (such as sheep, goats and camels) and diseases in nomadic pastoral systems.

The development of this new model is described in a journal article published in the May 2010 issue of the open access journal BMC Veterinary Research.

The article is based on research carried out within the framework of the Improvement and Diversification of Somali Livestock Trade and Marketing project implemented by ILRI and Terra Nuova. Tom Otieno, formerly with the ILRI Market Opportunities theme, is a co-author.

Read the article here

Citation
Ortiz-Pelaez A, Pfeiffer DU, Tempia S, Otieno FT, Aden HH and Costagli R. 2010. Risk mapping of rinderpest sero-prevalence in central and southern Somalia based on spatial and network risk factors. BMC Veterinary Research 6:22.

Innovation platforms boost livestock value chains in Mozambique

A novel approach to enhancing livestock commercialization is helping to improve market participation by smallholder livestock keepers in semi-arid Mozambique.

The Innovation Platform (IP) approach uses value chain analysis to identify challenges and constraints to livestock production and marketing. Based on these, opportunities to overcome the bottlenecks are then sought.

By collectively engaging all value chain actors, the IP approach strengthens linkages among sector stakeholders thus helping to enhance efficiency through better alignment of livestock production and market requirements. In addition, improved flow of market information results in reduced transaction costs and greater market efficiency.

The Livestock and Livelihoods (LILI) project (Livestock and Livelihoods: Improving market participation of small-scale livestock producers), implemented from 2007, used the IP approach to contribute towards achieving the project's objectives.

These objectives were to: (1) improve market participation of small-scale goat and cattle keepers in semi-arid regions of Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe; (2) evaluate constraints to and opportunities for commercialization of smallholder production of goats and cattle; (3) test and evaluate alternative livestock marketing and input delivery systems; (4) assess the impact of market-led technology change on household incomes; and (5) establish an effective communication strategy to facilitate networking and exchange of information among sector stakeholders.

The LILI project was collaboratively undertaken by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the National Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique (IIAM), the Matopos Research Station of Zimbabwe and the Namibian National Farmers' Union (NNFU). 

Some of the experiences of implementing the IP approach in the LILI project are documented in an April 2010 report, The innovation platform in Mozambique: Evidence from Chicualacuala and Changara, by Dr Manuel Filipe, a scientist formerly with ILRI's Market Opportunities research theme.

"The Innovation Platform can be a platform for constructive debate and problem solving," Dr Filipe notes in his report. "The market actors as well as the local authorities have embraced it and it is being used as an entry point for other initiatives such as training and planning, among others," he adds.

The LILI project was funded by the European Union and supported by the Southern African Development Community.

Download the report

Citation
Filipe M. 2010. The innovation platform in Mozambique: Evidence from Chicualacuala and Changara. Project report. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi. 18pp.