ILRI sustainable livestock systems program outputs (2017-2024)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/79347

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Optimizing Mixed Farming Systems for Enhanced Productivity, Nutrition, Income, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Inclusion: A Field Day Report
(Report, 2024-11-30) Tessema, Fikadu; Gebreyes, Million; Mekonnen, Kindu
In Ethiopia, mixed farming systems involve both crop cultivation and livestock raising. This approach is critical for many Ethiopian farmers' livelihoods, especially in the highlands, where agricultural practices are significantly influenced by environmental factors like climatic, edaphic, anthropogenic, socio-economic, institutional, and environmental conditions. As a result of these challenges, it is apparent to see huge food-feed gaps in these mixed farming systems. Land degradation, population pressure, land size, poor infrastructure, shortages of demand and niche compatible technologies, inadequate job opportunities for youth and weak input-output market are also some of the challenges that affect the productivity of the mixed farming systems. Mixed Farming Systems (MFS) initiative, and AICCRA and TAAT projects have been jointly working with Regional (Central Ethiopia Agricultural Research Institute (CEARI), Workable Agricultural Research Center, Hadiya Zone Department of Agriculture, Lemo Woreda Office of Agriculture) and international organizations (ILRI, CIAT, Alliance Bioversity and ICARDA) and providing practical solution on climate smart feed-food innovations approach in Lemo and Misha Woredas of Hadiya Zone, Central Regional State Ethiopia. To disseminate research interventions and findings; field day is an instrument in sharing food and forage technologies in Lemo woreda and the surrounding areas. It provides a platform for knowledge exchange, practical demonstrations, and peer learning, empower farmers to embrace model agricultural practices, ultimately leading to improved productivity, nutrition, and income.
The Mazingira Centre analytical services laboratory
(Brochure, 2024-11-30) International Livestock Research Institute
Workshop Report Promoting Risk management solutions in fragile settings of Northern Nigeria
(Report, 2025-01-30) Ajeigbe, Hakeem A.; Banerjee, Rupsha R.; Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia; Whitbread, Anthony M.
The livestock sector in Northern Nigeria plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, contributing significantly to food security, livelihoods, and cultural identity. However, this sector faces numerous challenges, particularly in fragile settings characterized by conflict, climate variability, and socio-economic instability. Recognizing the urgent need for effective risk management solutions, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) organized an interactive session aimed at promoting strategies to enhance resilience within livestock production systems. This report synthesizes insights gained during the session, focusing on key research questions that guided discussions: 1. What are the risk types prioritized in the livestock value chain? 2. How do these risks interact to compound impacts for different social groups? 3. What are the various risk management strategies currently in place? 4. What entry points exist to enhance the effectiveness of these strategies for building resilience? The report is structured to address these questions systematically, providing a comprehensive overview of the identified risks, their implications, and potential management strategies. This report highlights the significant challenges and opportunities within Nigeria's livestock sector, which is crucial to the country's agricultural economy. Northern Nigeria faces severe vulnerabilities due to climate change, including increased temperatures, variable rainfall, desertification, and extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. These factors exacerbate natural resource degradation and conflicts in pastoral areas, making them increasingly fragile.
Enhancing Meghdoot: Integrating AI for Smarter Agricultural Advisories
(Report, 2024-12-29) Dhulipala, Ram; Singh, Kanika
Digital Innovation Initiative at ILRI, in collaboration with partners, is integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Meghdoot to enhance its efficiency and accuracy. A pilot project has tested AI models, such as Random Forest regression, Naive Bayesian, and Stacked Models, alongside OpenAI prompt engineering. Conducted at three locations in India, the pilot has demonstrated promising results. Efforts are underway to refine machine learning models, incorporate expert knowledge, and explore techniques like noisy labels to improve advisory quality. A web-based platform has also been developed to automate advisory generation, allowing users to select parameters like location, crop type, and AI model. The system generates personalized advisories using historical, observed, and forecasted weather data. It provides both AI-generated and traditional advisories, along with weather forecasts and SMS summaries for easy dissemination. Moving forward, the goal is to integrate this AI-powered advisory system into Meghdoot, scaling it nationwide to improve agricultural decision-making, enhance sustainability, and increase resilience among farmers.
Multifunctional Grass and Forage Legumes Screening for Mixed Farming Systems in North Shewa
(Report, 2024-12-31) Alene, Temesgen; Alemayehu, Liulseged; Getachew, Tesfa; Mekonnen, Kindu
Synergies in action: Supporting equitable scaling of locally led adaptation in Kenya’s dairy sector
(Brief, 2024-12-30) DuttaGupta, Tanaya; Bullock, Renee; Kiptoo, Emmaculate; Habermann, Birgit; Maiyo, Nathan; Chebet, J.; Gichuki, Leah; Crane, Todd A.
Scaling Livestock Insurance under rapidly evolving social, economic and environmental context in the drylands: Perspectives from Kenya and Ethiopia
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Malicha, Wario; Galgallo, Diba; Gobu, Wako; Banerjee, Rupsha R.; Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia; DuttaGupta, Tanaya
ILRI-CIMMYT Study Tour Report: Develop Resilient and Low Emissions Crop-livestock
(Report, 2024-12-30) Zepeda, Adair; Carrillo, Adrian; García, Carlos; Martínez, David; Leal, Jaime; Córdoba, Maria del; Hernández, Pilar; Améndola, Ricardo; May, Vladimir; Mekonnen, Kindu; Kabugi, Assenath; Lukuyu, Ben A.; Ridaura, Santiago; Seifu, Haimanot; Whitbread, Anthony M.
Bundled solutions for climate adaptation: A multi-method participatory approach to address socially differentiated needs and preferences for complementing livestock insurance with other services among pastoral communities in northern Kenya
(Brief, 2024-12-30) DuttaGupta, Tanaya; Banerjee, Rupsha R.; Shikuku, Kelvin Mashisia; Masakhwe, Sonia; Galgallo, Diba; Malicha, Wario; Ochenje, Ibrahim; Osiemo, Jamleck
We are the International Land Coalition
(Presentation, 2024-11) Taylor, Michael
A presentation made at the webinar on collaboration between the International Land Coalition and the CGIAR, 17th July 2024.
Empowering Ethiopian livestock keepers: A new approach to learning
(Blog Post, 2024-12-15) Abiy, Rahel; Habermann, Birgit
Overview of on-going Animal Studies
(Presentation, 2024-12-10) Garcia, Edward; Arndt, Claudia
Introduction to Mazingira Overview on the Status-Quo and Challenges to Reduce Emissions from Livestock Systems in Africa
(Presentation, 2024-12-10) Arndt, Claudia
Greenhouse gas emissions from soils and animal manure
(Presentation, 2024-12-10) Leitner, Sonja
Biodigester circular economy innovation
(Presentation, 2024-12-10) Mulat, Daniel
Developing an Action Plan for the Kenya Drought Watch System and Reviewing Triggers and Thresholds for Drought Anticipatory Action
(Report, 2024-12) Okoth, Vincet; Ouma, Jully; Kinyua, Jason; Amdihun, Ahmed; Demissie, Teferi
Droughts have become more frequent and severe in Kenya and across East Africa, exacerbating food insecurity, water scarcity, and economic instability. To address these challenges, robust drought monitoring and early warning systems must be developed, as well as anticipatory actions that can mitigate the impact of droughts before they occur. ICPAC, in collaboration with key partners such as AICCRA and the Kenyan government, planned to support the development of a National Drought Watch System, which will provide real-time data and analysis on drought conditions and early warning systems. Initiatives such as ForPAc, INFORM, AstroCAST, IARP, and FbF for food security(F4S) have led to the development of drought forecasts and triggers and thresholds to support the co-development of AA in Kenya and the region. The Kenya National Drought Watch System is envisioned as a foundational model for other IGAD member states, showcasing the best drought monitoring and response practices. It also leverages protocols for drought triggers and thresholds developed by organizations such as ICPAC, WFP, FAO, the Red Cross, NDOC, KMD, and NDMA. By reviewing and refining these protocols, the system aims to enhance resilience to climate variability nationally and regionally. The workshop aimed to create a comprehensive action plan for the Kenya Drought Watch System (KDWS), ensuring consistency with the regional East Africa Drought Watch systems and a detailed review of the national triggers and thresholds for Anticipatory Action (AA).
Ethiopian Extension System and Pioneer-Positive Deviance
(Presentation, 2024-11-18) Teshome, A.; Habermann, Birgit; Worku, Tigist
Transformation from the ground: Adaptation pioneers as agents of change through climate-resilient agriculture
(Manual, 2024-12-18) Habermann, Birgit; Gichuki, Leah; Worku, Tigist; Kiptoo, Emmaculate; Crane, Todd A.; DuttaGupta, Tanaya
Adaptation to climate change is neither optional nor hypothetical. It is no longer something that we plan for in the future. The time is here and now. Smallholder farmers and herders the world over know this through their own lived experiences. Acknowledging this fact through transdisciplinary collaboration with a focus on farmer-led innovation (F-LI) for adaptation is a rising priority in the domain of climate change adaptation. However, it is often unclear how exactly to implement this in practice. While much adaptation work starts with analyzing problems and building out from that anchor, there is much to be gained in starting with climate solutions that are already effectively embedded within livelihoods and communities. Adaptation for climate-resilient agriculture needs an approach that builds on and engages with people’s agency in both generating and scaling their own climate change adaptation solutions. This approach must be built into a robust, coherent, and consistent framework that speaks to the needs of farmers – and lets farmers speak for themselves. It engages farmers and herders in a way that acknowledges their practical knowledge to be of equal value with other, more institutionalized, forms of knowledge such as science.
Cascading Climate Resilience: A Training of Trainers Approach to Integrate Climate Risk Management in Ethiopia’s Agricultural Extension
(Report, 2024-10-30) Belay, Berhanu; Demissie, Teferi; Solomon, Dawit
A Training of Trainers (ToT) approach was implemented across 69 watersheds within the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Climate-sensitive Innovations for Land Management Program (CLM) project areas to effectively disseminate skills and knowledge on Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension (CRMAE). The GIZ-CLM watersheds spread in eight regions of Ethiopia, namely Southern Ethiopia, Sidama, Central Ethiopia, Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambela. In this ToT approach, the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), in collaboration with 12 public universities and 38 staff of universities, trained 814 staff from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and GIZ on CRMAE. AICCRA and its partners undertook the ToT training based on the request received from the GIZ under the CLM project and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOTC-DICAC). The knowledge and skills acquired by MoA-GIZ staff were subsequently used to train over 23,117 beneficiaries, with primary aim of facilitating the integration of climate risk knowledge into their respective watershed activity plans. The direct beneficiaries of these trainings included 681 leaders of watershed user committees, 1,854 participants in climate risk assessment and adaptation planning, 1,410 members of the plan updating and revision team, 3,763 individuals involved in plan endorsement for action, and 15,302 smallholder farmers engaged in climate-sensitive watershed management. The cascading effects of the ToT modality proved effective in reaching a larger number of end-users within a short timeframe and fostered strong collaboration among diverse stakeholders. It is also a key to transform the memorandum of understanding into actionable commitments. This experience should, therefore, be shared among agricultural extension institutions to promote broader adoption of the ToT approach within the Ethiopian extension system.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in Climate Services Expanded Content for Senegal Agricultural Extension Curriculum
(Training Material, 2024-12-20) Hansen, James; Huyer, Sophia; Moore, Maya; Mbow, Khalifa
Inequality is deeply built into the way societies, economies and governments are structured. These structural inequalities can make it challenging to provide climate services that are accessible and benefit everyone. Even though climate services have the potential to improve the lives of rural farmers, they risk reinforcing existing inequalities if service providers fail to understand and address the unique needs and constraints of women and other historically marginalized populations, as well as include them in the design of services. Recognizing these populations as distinct user groups, with specific needs and barriers when it comes to accessing and utilizing climate services, is crucial. This training manual presents expanded curriculum content on gender equality and social inclusion for AES providers, to supplement the existing Climate Risk Management for Agricultural Extension (CRMAE) Senegal curriculum.

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