Power dynamics and representation in innovation platforms

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How community initiatives are making a difference in goat farmers’ lives in Central Mozambique

In risk prone farming areas like Marara District, goats are a profitable and resilient source of income. A goat restocking and pass-on approach – providing goats to extremely poor farmers who would then pass on the goats’ first offspring to other farmers – was developed, thus enabling the farmers to participate in local development pathways via goat farming. Benefits were identified at different levels of participation. Selling goats enables smallholder farmers with the means to pay for food, education, human health and farm labor, enabling them to transition to a better livelihood. For communities, an activity such as restocking strengthens their capacity to respond to threats (drought, theft) by building a common knowledge base and developing assets. Stakeholder networks bring goat market partners closer for cost-effective collection and sale/purchase of goat

Ethiopia: Analyzing the patterns of herd mobility

Sabine Homann and Barbara Rischkowsky explain how studying past and present herd mobility patterns can improve land management in the Borana lowlands

Ethiopie : analyser les déplacements des troupeaux

Sabine Homann et Barbara Rischkowsky expliquent comment l'analyse des schémas de déplacement des troupeaux peut permettre d'améliorer la gestion des sols dans les plaines du Borana

Production decisions and food security outcomes of smallholder’s livestock market participation: empirical evidence from Zimbabwe

Smallholder market participation is an important pathway to improving the productivity and livelihoods of farm households. Despite several studies documenting the effect of market participation on crop production, relatively little is known about the effect of smallholder participation in livestock markets. We investigate effects of smallholder market participation on livestock production and household food security in Zimbabwe. Using survey data collected from 625 households and an instrumental variables strategy to address endogeneity concerns, we find that households participating in livestock markets are more likely to engage in market-oriented livestock production, use improved livestock inputs, and have better food security outcomes. While market participants are more likely to consider market conditions in their decisions, most farmers are needs-driven and cannot afford to adopt commercial-oriented behavior. Overall, smallholder livestock production systems respond to market incentives and can support food security strategies, particularly in drylands where crop production is risky

Nudging sustainability transitions in Central Mozambique

An Agricultural Innovation Platform (AIP) facilitates and accelerates transition of farmers from subsistence farming to socially inclusive, environmentally sound and market-oriented farming. AIPs adapt interventions around interlinked levers in the food value chains, with entry points based on a good understanding of farming systems and input/output market requirements. Learning activities around these entry points strengthen stakeholder networks. Capacitating farmers through stakeholder networks, using mutual learning and additional technical training sessions, improves their self-organization and helps them become entrepreneurs, with the private sector as business mentors and government and extension as facilitators and support. Prospects for change in complex farming systems often appear few and uncertain, leaving farmers feeling helpless in the face of challenges. AIPs demonstrate that small interventions around significant leverage points will have far-reaching benefits. With time, stakeholders facilitate multiple changes through AIPs, magnifying the impact and paving the way for initiatives beyond a project’s lifespan. The ‘AIP experience’ changes their self-perception, resilience, motivation and empowerment forever

Integrated ag-data hub in Zambia using existing CIS platforms coupled with the iSAT and DEA data cube

This report is divided into two parts (i) technical progress on building a prototype of the Agdatahub as well as generation and dissemination of advisories using iSAT (ii) governance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement to host Agdatahub

SSU video episodes and implementation of CSA technology packages in key value chains communications campaign

This report presents Shamba Shape Up (SSU) video episodes and implementation of CSA technology packages in key value chains communications campaign in Zambia. To scale up climate delivery systems, several platforms (mobile phones, the internet, radio, and television) were used, leveraging their benefits