Need for the development of regional capacities in biotechnology to improve livestock production in West Africa

Thévenon, S., Gouro, A., Bélemsaga, D.M.A. and Adakal, H. 2006. Need for the development of regional capacities in biotechnology to improve livestock production in West Africa. In: Rege, J.E.O.; Nyamu, A.M.; Sendalo, D. (eds.). 2006. The role of biotechnology in animal agriculture to address poverty in Africa: Opportunities and challenges. Proceedings of the 4th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture and the 31st annual meeting of Tanzania Society for Animal Production, Arusha, Tanzania, 20–24 September 2005. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: TSAP and Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

Livestock breeding is an essential activity in West Africa. However, its productivity is usually low and it cannot provide enough food to meet the needs of a growing population. To improve livestock productivity, it is necessary to face numerous constraints that could be resolved by research and development activities based in part on biotechnology tools. Different researches using biotechnology tools are conducted in CIRDES on the genetic characterisation of local breeds, parasites and vectors to improve animal health and production. However, all these researches cannot be performed in full at CIRDES or in any other West African institute. Human resources and equipment are not sufficient to achieve the objectives of the research programmes. Building a biotechnology platform in West Africa, with the required equipment and the trained staff in the national agriculture research systems of the sub-region, could solve this problem.