Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy?

High food prices in Eastern Africa and the role of policy: Dr Joseph Karugia presents at an Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology lunch seminar

The coordinator of the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Eastern and Central Africa (ReSAKSS-ECA), Dr Joseph Karugia, today afternoon (30 June 2011) gave a presentation titled “Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy?” at a lunch seminar at the Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi. The seminar was organized by the Kenya Chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB).

Dr Karugia presented some regional perspectives to the food price situation in Eastern and Southern Africa and put forward some policy options that would best enable governments and other stakeholders to respond in a timely manner, based on evidence from research data.

Sharing research with the general public: Dr Joseph Karugia does a piece-to-camera  for the Kenya News Agency (KNA) after his OFAB seminar on high food prices in Eastern Africa and the role of policy

Earlier this week, Dr Karugia was also interviewed on the same subject on two live television shows -- The Breakfast Show by NTV and The Platform by Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

Curbing rising food prices: Screen grab of Dr Joseph Karugia (right) in a live Kenya Broadcasting Corporation television interview on 28 June 2011 by journalist Kasujaa Onyonyi (left)

 
ReSAKSS-ECA is based at the Nairobi headquarters of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi under the Market Opportunities research theme.

ReSAKSS is an Africa-wide network established to provide readily available analysis, data, and tools of the highest quality to promote evidence-based decision-making on policy issues on Agriculture in Africa.

To find out more about ReSAKSS, please visit http://www.resakss.org

Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy?

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Regional experts adopt recommendations towards safe livestock trade between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East

Feeding time for goats in a quarantine station: Regional livestock experts from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East have adopted recommendations towards harmonized, risk-based approaches to control of trade-related transboundary animal diseases (Photo: Saudi-Emirates International Veterinary Quarantine Management Co.)

Following a meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 13-16 June 2011, some 70 regional and international livestock experts endorsed and adopted a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing safe inter-regional livestock trade between exporting countries in the Horn of Africa and importing countries in the Middle East.

The objectives of the workshop were to:

• Examine the use of the decision support tool for adoption in prevention and control of Rift Valley fever
• Assemble an approach to regional harmonization for control of other transboundary animal diseases that impact on livestock trade
• Delineate animal welfare issues along the marketing chain and propose potential interventions
• Devise mechanisms for ensuring enhanced communication between the trading partners
• Define the way forward on risk-based approaches to livestock certification

The workshop participants made recommendations on the following aspects that were discussed during the 4-day meeting:

• Standard Methods and Procedures
• Rift Valley fever decision support tool
• Communication between livestock trading partners
• Animal health certification
• Animal welfare
• Application of the principle of equivalence

The workshop was convened by a consortium of partners comprising the African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) as the lead implementing agency, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Read the workshop recommendations

For more information about the workshop activities and to access the presentations, please visit http://rvfworkshop2011.wordpress.com

To view the workshop presentations, please visit http://www.slideshare.net/marketsblog/presentations

Regional workshop to discuss risk-based approaches for livestock certification and control of animal diseases

Livestock sector stakeholders from the Horn of Africa and the Middle East will discuss risk-based approaches for control of transboundary animal diseases. (Photo credit: ILRI/Mann. Cattle being watered at the Ghibe River in southwestern Ethiopia.)

Chief veterinary officers and livestock sector stakeholders from several countries in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East meet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 13-16 June 2011 for a workshop on enhancing safe inter-regional livestock trade between exporting countries in the Horn of Africa and importing countries in the Middle East. Some 70 participants are expected to attend.

The purpose of the workshop is to:

• Review the Rift Valley fever situation in the East Africa and Middle East sub-regions;
• Discuss and test the use of a‘decision support tool’ for prevention and control of Rift Valley fever;
• Consult on a regional mechanism for coordination for prevention and control of Rift Valley fever using the decision support tool; and
• Discuss an approach to regional harmonization for control of other transboundary animal diseases that impact livestock trade.

The workshop is convened by the African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

ILRI’s Market Opportunities theme will be represented by veterinary epidemiologist Dr Bernard Bett, who will facilitate a session on communication among livestock trading partners.

ILRI is also represented by Dr Jeffrey Mariner, a veterinary epidemiologist with the Biotechnology theme who will facilitate several sessions on the Rift Valley fever decision support tool, a risk-based framework that guides responses to outbreaks of the disease.

More information and updates will be posted on the workshop blog, http://rvfworkshop2011.wordpress.com.

The provisional agenda is available here.

Study identifies feed improvement options for dairy farmers in East Africa

A dairy cow on a Kenyan smallholder farm feeds on maize stover. The East Africa Dairy Development project has identified opportunities for improving production and use of feed resources. (Photo credit: ILRI)

Good quality feeds and forages are crucial for successful livestock production. Studies have shown that in Africa and other developing countries animal feeds and feeding make up 60-70% of total production costs.

Many smallholder livestock keepers face several constraints related to feeds and feeding, including inadequate quality and quantity of feeds, inefficient supply chains and poor storage facilities, all of which have a negative impact on livestock productivity.

The East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project is working with dairy farmers in the region to improve household incomes through integrated interventions in dairy production, market access and knowledge application. The project is currently being piloted in 8 sites in Rwanda, 18 in Kenya and 27 in Uganda.

The project carried out a rapid appraisal in four study sites in Kenya to identify practical interventions towards more efficient use of livestock feed resources and, consequently, increased productivity.

The findings of the study are published in the May 2011 edition of Livestock Research for Rural Development. The lead author, Dr Ben Lukuyu, is a feed specialist with ILRI's Market Opportunities research theme.

The EADD project is a regional industry development program implemented by a consortium of partners led by Heifer International. The other project partners are the African Breeders Services Total Cattle Management (ABS-TCM), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), TechnoServe and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

The rapid appraisal assessed the livestock feeding practices in smallholder dairy systems; identified where gaps in feed supply occur for feed resources that are not available year-round; and determined some practices that dairy farmers can adopt to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality livestock feed all year round.

The study identified various options to improve the use and storage of on-farm feed resources such as processing of feed by chopping or chaffing which have been shown to increase milk production per kilogram of feed consumed, as well as feed conservation by silage-making and baling of hay to help cope with the dry season shortage and ensure an adequate supply of feed.

However, for sustainable uptake of these interventions, the authors note that there will be need to improve farmer training and access to information, and to strengthen linkages with stakeholders.

Read the full-text article here

Citation
Lukuyu B, Franzel S, Ongadi PM and Duncan AJ. 2011. Livestock feed resources: Current production and management practices in central and northern rift valley provinces of Kenya. Livestock Research for Rural Development Volume 23, Article #112. Retrieved June 3, 2011, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd23/5/luku23112.htm