Livestock Fish Matter(s): Roundup of program highlights, March 2014

This is the second roundup of news from the CGIAR Livestock and Fish research program. The program aims to increase the productivity of small-scale livestock and fish systems in sustainable ways, making meat, milk and fish more available and affordable to poor consumers across the developing world. Download a print version.

Program news

2014 CGIAR-US university linkages call for proposals
As last year, USAID has provided $US 107,800 to promote linkages between the Livestock and Fish Program and United States universities. Researchers in the four partner centres (ILRI, ICARDA, WorldFish and CIAT) are invited to submit proposals for collaborative research with U.S universities. Proposals are due March 31, 2014.

Journey starts to an improved vaccine to control East Coast fever
On 27-29 January 2014, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Kenya hosted discussions on ways to ‘wrestle’ the African cattle disease known as East Coast fever to the ground. Experts from the fields of East Coast fever research, bovine immunology, parasitology and genomics met to discuss how to develop a new-generation vaccine to protect cattle from this lethal disease.

Country updates – value chain innovation

Egyptian aquaculture innovation platform plans for further growth in the sector
Stakeholders from Egypt’s $1.5 billion aquaculture industry recently came together in Cairo to discuss future development of the sector. Organized by WorldFish, the two-day Innovation Platform meeting was planned in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Competitive beef and dairy project launched in Nicaragua
On 27 February 2014, the Livestock and Fish program team in Nicaragua joined with partners CATIE, Center for Export and Investment Nicaragua (CEI), and Heifer International to launch a new project called ‘competitive beef and dairy through sustainable intensification and specialized market access‘. The project’s objective is to improve the competitiveness and income of small and medium cattle farmers in Nicaragua through the implementation of good farm management practices and the creation and strengthening of sustainable beef and dairy value chains.

Uganda pig value chain partnership with private sector raises sector profile
The Uganda Daily Monitor published an article on a two-day training organized by the Pig Production and Marketing Ltd Uganda, to chart the way forward on how to develop the pig industry. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Uganda team was among the invitees who provided training to the pig farmers present at the event mid February 2014.

Gender mainstreaming in the Nicaraguan dual-purpose cattle value chain
On 21-22 January 2014 the Livestock and Fish program conducted a gender workshop in Managua, Nicaragua to share methodologies and approaches to incorporate gender in the program’s work in the dual purpose cattle value chain in Nicaragua. The workshop was an opportunity for current and potential partners to reflect on basic concepts and perceptions regarding gender equity, from both personal and organizational perspectives, taking into consideration gender statistics and opportunity gaps between men and women in the Nicaraguan livestock sector.

Research theme updates

Tools for feed resources assessment and feed technology prioritization focus of ILRI–ICRISAT training
From 27–30 November 2013, the CGIAR research programs on Livestock and Fish and Dryland systems joined with ‘Bhoochetana Plus’ – a Government of Karnataka-CGIAR initiative, to deliver a four day training program on the Feed Resources Assessment (FEAST) and the Feed Technology Prioritization (Techfit) tools.

Assessing resource ownership by women in Ethiopia, Nicaragua, and Tanzania
The Gender, Learning and Impact theme is exploring ways the concept of ownership is perceived by rural women in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nicaragua, to determine how this influences gender dynamics and the adoption of practices and technologies which enhance availability and access to food.

Ethiopia sheep and goat value chain training in benchmarking
On 6-9 Nov 2013, the Livestock and Fish program organized training on the use of benchmarking tools for sheep and goat value chain development in Ethiopia. Nearly 30 participants took part in the training from the different value chains intervention areas in Ethiopia namely Atsbi, Abergelle, Doyogena, Horro, Menze, Yabello, and Shinelle.

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