CATTLE AS ASSETS: ASSESSMENT OF NON-MARKET BENEFITS FROM CATTLE IN SMALLHOLDER KENYAN CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

This paper uses data from a survey of two hundred and fifty cattle households in three cattle keeping systems; intensive, semi-intensive and extensive systems to estimate the value of non-market, socio-economic benefits of cattle in Kenya. These benefits of cattle keeping are of special importance in developing countries, where financial markets function poorly and opportunities for risk management through formal insurance generally absent. However, when estimating the total contribution of livestock, these non-market functions are often ignored since they are difficult to value, yet they may contribute to a better understanding of livestock production systems. The use of contingent valuation method is employed in this study to elicit these non-market values. Econometric estimations are then used to assess the factors influencing the non-market benefits function. The results indicate that these benefits are highly valued by cattle keepers and comprise approximately 20% of the animal's total value across the three systems. They are influenced by various production system and household related factors. Implications for policy are drawn.Livestock Production/Industries, QQ112, QQ118, DD223,

Dairy development for the resource poor. Part 3: Pakistan and India dairy development case studies

The process of dairy development that this study addresses is driven by underlying fundamental changes in economic growth, the value of resources and consumer demand. However, it is also shaped by public policies, interventions and investment decisions and will be accompanied by changes in impact on incomes, opportunities and livelihoods of producers and changes in opportunities and returns for market agents and investors. This study examines dairy development in two key dairy producing regions in the developing world: East Africa and South Asia. The aim of the study is to analyse the trends in dairy development in these two regions and identify their key determinants, to analyse the impact of policy interventions on those trends and to identify impacts of dairy development, particularly on the poor. The study is reported in three parts: Part 1 presents a conceptual framework for dairy development, followed by a section presenting a regional analysis of dairy development trends across all the countries in the two regions and a synthesis of the outcomes of the case study analyses (see below), highlighting implications for policy interventions and investment, including proposing a model for pro-poor dairy development. Parts 2 and 3 consist of in-depth case studies and analyses of dairy development trends, determinants and outcomes in Kenya and Ethiopia (Part 2) and India and Pakistan (Part 3 – this report)

Dairy development for the resource poor. Part 2: Kenya and Ethiopia. Dairy development case studies

The process of dairy development that this study addresses is driven by underlying fundamental changes in economic growth, the value of resources and consumer demand. However, it is also shaped by public policies, interventions and investment decisions and will be accompanied by changes in impact on incomes, opportunities and livelihoods of producers and changes in opportunities and returns for market agents and investors. This study examines dairy development in two key dairy producing regions in the developing world: East Africa and South Asia. The aim of the study is to analyse the trends in dairy development in these two regions and identify their key determinants, to analyse the impact of policy interventions on those trends and to identify impacts of dairy development, particularly on the poor. The study is reported in three parts: Part 1 presents a conceptual framework for dairy development, followed by a section presenting a regional analysis of dairy development trends across all the countries in the two regions and a synthesis of the outcomes of the case study analyses (see below), highlighting implications for policy interventions and investment, including proposing a model for pro-poor dairy development. Parts 2 and 3 consist of in-depth case studies and analyses of dairy development trends, determinants and outcomes in Kenya and Ethiopia (Part 2 – this report) and India and Pakistan (Part 3)

Types, levels and causes of post-harvest milk and dairy losses in sub-Saharan Africa and the Near East: Phase two synthesis report

The following is a synthesis report highlighting the results of rapid appraisals aimed at characterizing post-harvest milk and dairy losses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Tanzania and Uganda. In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the rapid appraisals were undertaken during the dry month of July 2003, when milk yields were relatively low in the region1. Post-harvest milk losses have been quantified both in terms of quantity and monetary value lost. Specific links in the milk chain where significant losses are experienced, and those losses that have pragmatic solutions have been identified and targeted for appropriate interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the losses. Key findings showed that most post-harvest milk losses are experienced in the small-scale informal dairy sector; formal milk processors generally incur minimal losses. In terms of quantity, significant milk losses occur at the farm level (8.4, 28.6, 46.4 and 54.2 million litres of milk per year for Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya, respectively) valued at approximately 0.9–11 million US dollars. Post-harvest losses of milk at the farm represented 1.3 to 6.4 percent of the value of available milk at the farm level. Poor road infrastructure and inadequate markets for raw milk are the main causes of farm-level losses, which are largely in form of spoilage, spillage, and “forced home consumption” (including by calves and humans) over and above normal household consumption. Although in quantity terms forced losses may seem to be high, in value terms they are less significant, because an estimated 70% of the value of the milk is still captured. Along the marketing chain, milk loss is mainly due to spillage and spoilage. These losses are occasioned by poor access to markets, poor milk handling practices as well as irregular power supply in milk processing plants. Based on the dry season rapid appraisal data, the total value of post-harvest milk losses per year amounted 9.9, 14.2, 17.8 and 23.9 million US dollars for Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, respectively. Recommendations for interventions aimed at reducing milk losses have been targeted at the farm level and small-scale milk transporters. These are the two points in the chain where losses in value were found to be most significant. Four general areas of intervention are discussed: training, technology, policy/legislation and information. This report represents the first systematic attempt to accurately quantify postharvest milk losses in the countries studied. However, because of the small sample sizes, limited geographical coverage and the fact that the rapid appraisals were undertaken during the dry season only, the results obtained must be interpreted with caution, bearing in mind the limited scope of the study. Additionally, some of the data provided was not up to the standard required to make a complete valuation. Further comprehensive studies covering a wider scope are needed as a follow-up to the rapid appraisals in order to generate additional data on the levels of post-harvest milk and dairy losses at the national level and across seasons. Nevertheless, the information generated provides a useful basis for implementing the recommended interventions

Types, levels and causes of post-harvest milk and dairy losses in sub-Saharan Africa and the Near East: Phase one synthesis report

The following report synthesizes and highlights the types, causes and levels of postharvest milk and dairy product losses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Tanzania and Uganda, based on national study documents submitted by consultants from the respective countries. The dairy industry strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in each country are also discussed. Based on these, recommendations on the next steps have been suggested

Traditional milk market in Assam: Potential for income and employment generation

The integrated food supply chains have emerged as the fastest growing and widely visible market phenomenon. Yet in most developing countries, small scale milk market agents and chains supplying fresh milk and traditionally processing dairy products play a major role. They are the key outlets for small holder dairy producers and are the main source of fresh milk supply for consumers. These traditional small-scale markets account for over 80 per cent of the marketed milk in many countries in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (Omore et al., 2004). In India too, more than 80 per cent of milk marketed still passes through these traditional milk marketing channels (Steven et al., 2008). The much hyped co-operative dairy development in India has also not been able to significantly affect the dominance of these traditional milk marketing channels. But, the functioning of the traditional milk market and its potential in income and employment generation has not been conceived properly in India. The understanding of the traditional milk marketing and processing chains are helpful in evolving policies and developmental strategies for creating an efficient milk marketing system. A study was planned in one of the backward states of India, namely Assam. In this state, 97 per cent of milk marketing is controlled by traditional milk market agents. (Kumar et al., 2007; Sirohi et al., 2009). The organised marketing and processing of milk in Assam remains insignificant. Formal milk pasteurisation and dairy product processing channels, both under co-operative and private sectors, account for hardly 3 per cent of the total locally marketed milk. The smallholder producers in the state have poor market access. The lack of alternative market options forces them to sell in the traditional market. In this backdrop, this study was undertaken with the objectives of (i) examining the costs and returns in traditional milk marketing and processing, (ii) estimating the milk producer's share in consumer rupee and marketing margins of different actors in the marketing chain, (iii) assessing the potential of traditional milk market in employment generation, and (iv) identifying the factors for scaling up the volume of business of the informal milk market agents in the state. The paper is organised as follows. Section II presents the data and methodology used in the study. The economics of traditional milk marketing and processing are discussed in Section III. Section IV deliberates on the potential of employment generation in the traditional milk market, while important determinants of the volume of milk handled by the traditional milk market agents have been discussed in Section V. The last section draws the conclusion and policy implications of the study

Ordovician volcanic and hypabyssal rocks in the central and southern Miramichi Highlands: their tectonic setting and relationship to contemporary volcanic rocks in northern New Brunswick

New analyses of mafic igneous rocks from the central Miramichi Highlands have led us to modify the interpretation of its tectonic setting. New samples have been obtained from the Bam ford Brook and Trousers Lake areas of New Brunswick, and the Danforth area in Maine. All subalkalic mafic rocks, including the Trousers Lake striped amphibolites, are associated with a thick sequence of metasedimentary rocks and all are continental tholeiites, analogous to tholeiitic suites in the Tetagouche Group of the northern Miramichi Highlands. The presence of alkalic basalt and comendite in this area supports this correlation. In the southern Miramichi Highlands of Maine, silicic and intermediate volcanic rocks form part of the Woodstock-Meductic arc-related volcanic suite. RÉSUMÉ De nouvelles analyses de roches ignées mafiques provenant du centre des hautes-terres de la Miramichi nous ont conduit à modifier l’interprétation de leur environnement tectonique. De nouveaux échantillons ont été recueillis dans les régions du ruisseau Bamford et du lac Trousers au Nouveau-Brunswick, et dans la région de Danforth au Maine. Toutes les roches mafiques subalcalines, incluant les amphibolites rubannées du lac Trousers, sont associées avec une séquence épaisse de roches métasédimentaires et sont toutes des tholéiites continentales, similaires aux suites tholéiitiques appartenant au Groupe de Tétagouche du nord des hautes-terres de la Miramichi. La présence de basaltes alcalins et de comendites dans cette région appuie cette corrélation. Dans le sud des hautes-terres de la Miramichi au Maine, les volcanites siliceuses et inlermddiaires constituent une partie de la suite volcanique d'arc de Woodstock-Meductic. [Traduit par le journal

The assessment of efforts to return to work in the European Union

Background: Assessment of efforts to promote return-to-work (RTW) includes all efforts (vocational and non-vocational) designed to improve the work ability of the sick-listed employee and increase the chance to return to work. Aim of the study was to investigate whether in 13 European countries these RTW efforts are assessed and to compare the procedures by means of six criteria. METHODS: Data were gathered in the taxonomy project of the European Union of Medicine in Assurance and Social Security and by means of an additional questionnaire. RESULTS: In seven countries RTW efforts are subject of the assessment in relation to the application for disability benefits. Description of RTW efforts is a prerequisite in five countries. Guidelines on the assessment of RTW efforts are only available in the Netherlands and no countries report the use of the ICF model. Based on the results of the additional questionnaire, the assessor is a social scientist or a physician. The information used to assess RTW efforts differs, from a report on the RTW process to medical information. A negative outcome of the assessment leads to delay of the application for disability benefits or to application for rehabilitation subsidy. Conclusion: RTW efforts are assessed in half of the participating European countries. When compared, the characteristics of the assessment of RTW efforts in the participating European countries show both similarities and differences. This study may facilitate the gathering and exchange of knowledge and experience between countries on the assessment of RTW efforts