Livestock Policy Analysis Brief no. 9 . Fertiliser use in semi-arid West Africa: Profitability and supporting policy

An important debate is currently under way among researchers and policy makers about the relative merits of using organic versus inorganic fertilisers to improve soil fertility in semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Environmentalists argue that use of inorganic fertiliser contributes to natural resource degradation and recommend use of organic fertilisers as a means of promoting sustainable agriculture. Opponents of this view maintain that a more rapid introduction of inorganic fertilisers is required in sub-Saharan Africa where current levels of use are extremely low, even when compared with other developing countries. This debate has important implications for agricultural intensification and sustainable development in the Sudanian and Sahelo-Sudanian agro-ecological zones of semi-arid West Africa. This paper assesses the profitability of using inorganic fertiliser and constraints posed on its use in the semi-arid farming systems of West Africa. It argues that under current conditions in these regions, organic and inorganic fertilisers are complements and not substitutes. The critical requirement for improving food production in these regions is to increase the use of inorganic fertiliser. Government policies need to support fertiliser importation and diffusion with conductive policies

The effects of price liberalisation on Kenyan peri-urban dairy

When severe market shortages of dairy products occurred in Kenya in early 1992, the government decontrolled dairy prices and revoked the monopoly of the Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) on sales of processed milk in urban areas. The general opinion among policy makers in Kenya then was that the price liberalisation would adversely affect the KCC. That the KCC has actually not lost its grip on the market is illustrated in this study of the impact of the 1992 policy reform on smallholder peri-urban dairy producers, using a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) approach

Research and technology transfer for livestock development

A framework for international action to support livestock development is presented and discussed. The goal is to help achieve increased and sustainable food production and generate revenue for improved food security in low income countries. This goal conforms to the global mandate of ILRI which, although its main function is research, cannot ignore the linking of research to technology transfer if it is to make an impact. Issues related to the role of livestock research in strategies making up the action framework and especially effective linkage with technology transfer are discussed. Africa is the focus, because, although it is not unique in facing the problems of low income countries, it provides the greatest challenge to the global agricultural development community

Gender roles and child nutrition in livestock production systems in developing countries: a critical review

The study of gender issues in agricultural production has become an important subject of inquiry, even since questions were raised on whether women and men benefited equally from economic development. The focus of the debate and empirical research has primarily been on the role of women in crop production to the virtual exclusion of the role of gender (women, men and children) in livestock farming. This review is based on the limited amount of available literature which shows that specific participation of women, men and children in animal husbandry is significant and varies from region to region according to the traditional gender division of labour, other variables, the farming systems and the demographic and environmental factors. The objectives of this review are to examine the gender division of labour, access to resources and benefits from smallholder ruminant livestock production systems; to evaluate the effects of ruminant livestock production on the nutritional status of children and to present two case studies that critically examine how gender analysis was included in smallholder ruminant livestock research projects

Tanzania livestock master plan—Key findings

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundatio

Tanzania Livestock Master Plan: The Dairy Roadmap

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundatio