1. Intensifying Livestock Production (Theme 3)
Overview

2. Outline 1. Baseline (Project Starting point in 2012)
2. Evolution of Livestock Research for Development activities
3. Key Milestones (Achievements & Lessons)
4. Major Gaps in Phase 1
5. Partners

3. 1. Baseline Information
Workshop to review constraints and opportunities for intensification of ruminant and non-ruminant production systems in northern Ghana (27-28 Aug 2012)
Community analysis (constraints & opportunities to livestock production) in Ghana
Baseline survey in Mali in 2012
Inventory of technologies for Quick Wins in 2012
Characterization of 3 key livestock value chains (guinea fowl in Northern region, pig in Upper East and small ruminants in Upper West)

4. 1. Baseline Information
Population pyramid of Fonfana Village in Koutiala in 2009/2010 (Source: Travail des enfants dans l’agriculture; total population 635)
With dominance of youthful population in both study sites, household labour for farming is a critical issue
Child nutrition is important in both Bougouni & Koutiala in view of the significant proportion of the population that is children

5. 2. Evolution of Livestock Research for Development
2012: Testing of Quick Wins technologies – No coordinated research activities
2012: On-station evaluation of some technologies e.g. non-conventional feeds for pigs and guinea fowl (replacing maize with false yam tuber meals for local pig Ashanti Black; replacing maize with false yam seed or sorghum spent grain (pito mash) for local guinea fowl; to replace maize;
2012: Baseline studies in Ghana and Mali
2012: Capacity building – non-degree short term training for farmers and researchers

6. 2. Evolution of Livestock Research for Development
2013: Training in FEAST and evaluation of feed resources
: On-farm testing and evaluation of technologies e.g. feed-health interventions in Ghana
2013 – 2016: PhD Research (1. Nutrient use in smallholder livestock production systems in Northern Ghana; 2. Local institutions governing NRM in Mali)
: Testing feed and housing options to improve productivity of rural poultry and pig systems
2014: Characterization of 3 key livestock value chains (guinea fowl in Northern region, pig in Upper East and small ruminants in Upper West)

7. 2. Evolution of Livestock Research for Development
: Ensiling techniques for conservation of crop residues in Ghana – On=farm demonstration and training of farmers
2016 – 2017: Piloting feed-health interventions in Mali
: Development oriented activities - Elaboration and formalization of local conventions in 3 communities in Bougouni and Koutiala, and demarcation of livestock routes; training in conflict management

8. 3. Milestones Achievements – Ghana
A synthesis on sustainable intensification of cereal-based farming systems in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Ghana: Analysis of constraints and opportunities for the sustainable intensification of mixed crop-livestock farming systems in northern Ghana.
Diagnostic workshop to analyze constraints and opportunities of sustainable intensification of crop-livestock systems in Northern Ghana held in August The proceedings from the workshop is available.
A four day training course was organized on crop-livestock farming systems in Tamale, Ghana from 19 to 22 September, 2012.
173 herdsmen, women and cattle owners were trained in milk hygiene practices in 3 districts of northern Ghana in 2012

9. 3. Milestones Achievements – Ghana
325 processors were trained in ‘wagashi’ (soft cheese) processing in the 3 districts in Northern Ghana and 40 milk processors were introduced to rudiments of yoghurt processing in one district in 2012
Feed-health interventions for improved small ruminant production in 9 communities in 3 regions - increased weight gain, significant decline in mortality and increase in manure output from the treatment animals. More than 5,000 sheep and goats were vaccinated against PPR
Construction of 12 model houses for sheep and goat in 6 intervention communities in Northern Ghana
Baseline studies on options to increase productivity of rural poultry and pig production systems, and feeding trials on use of non-conventional feeds
Training on Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) in Tamale in August 2013

10. 3. Milestones
Training of milk processors in “Wagashi” (soft cheese)

11. 3. Milestones Achievements – Ghana
Evaluation of existing and potential feed resources using FEAST in six intervention communities in the 3 regions of Northern Ghana. Surveys on feed market potential in 3 regions in Ghana.
Conservation techniques for efficient use of crop residues as animal feed
Assessment of promising livestock value chains in 3 regions - Guinea fowl in Northern, small ruminants in Upper West and pig in Upper East regions
3 MSc students from University of Ghana, Legon completed their thesis; 1 PhD student (UDS Tamale) completed field work and preparing for his defense

12. 3. Milestones Achievements – Mali
Diagnosis of baseline situation with respect to biophysical, socio-economic and institutional profiles of the study sites, and the production systems (crop, livestock & agroforestry) in Bougouni and Koutiala, Mali.
Synthesis report on review of existing land use plans and local conventions in Bougouni and Koutiala districts, Mali
Assessment of feed resources and constraints to livestock production in six intervention communities in Bougouni and Koutiala districts using FEAST (Feed Assessment Tool) developed by ILRI
Analysis of strength and weakness of local institutions governing natural resources, and strategies to strengthen them
Documentation of transhumance practices and the effects on natural resource management in the six intervention communities
Participatory analysis of the immediate and long-term causes of conflict over natural resource use and identification of options to reduce conflicts and associated problems

13. 3. Milestones Achievements – Mali
Demonstration of chopping machine for conservation of crop residues and better utilization

14. 4. Major Gaps in Phase 1
Breed improvement, particularly community breeding scheme
Improving household nutrition through animal source food
Improving nutrient flows in crop-livestock systems
Livestock water productivity including rainwater harvesting
Removing drudgery in production (small scale mechanization)
Improving smallholder milk production, value addition and utilization

15. 5. Partners CGIAR: ILRI, ICRISAT
NARS: CSIR-Animal Research Institute, Ghana; IER Mali; UDS Tamale; KNUST Kumasi
NGO: AMEDD Mali