With slightly over 100 news articles from the Livestock and Fish Program, below is the 2014 list of the top 10 most read news. Below, we list the most downloaded reports from our repository in 2014.

1. Ethiopia small ruminant value chain analysis reports released
On April 2014, the results of the rapid value chain assessment that describe the various value chains, assess strengths and weaknesses, and list ‘best bet’ interventions for each of the sites in Ethiopia; Sekota Abergelle district, Horro district, Oromia region, Yabello district, Borana zone, Shinelle district, Somali Region, Menz Gera district, North Shewa zone, Tanqua Abergelle district, Tigray, Doyogena, Atsbi Woreda, Tigray Region were published.

2. 2014 CGIAR-US university linkages call for proposals
The 2014 call for proposal to promote linkages between the Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program and United States universities with funding worth $US 107,800 from USAID.

3. Livestock and Fish call for proposals: Strengthening cross-CRP collaboration
The Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program call for proposals to encourage collaboration with other CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs). Made in July, the call targeted CRP researchers with innovative ideas for strategic activities that would create synergies contributing to the outputs and outcomes of the Livestock and Fish Program and other CRPs.

4. India smallholder dairy value chain: Trends, status and likely future directions
The India smallholder dairy value chain situation analysis report was published in early 2014. The report assesses the conditions within which the dairy value chains in India operate, and sets out a broader national context for the rapid and in-depth dairy value chain assessments and analysis at site or small geographical scales through subsequent research activities. It provides an overview of past trends, current status and the likely future directions in dairy value chains in India – as well as the states of Assam and Bihar, and identifies the underlying challenges and opportunities faced by different actors in the value chains.

5. PhD scholarship opportunities in the Tanzania dairy value chain
Two International Livestock Research Institute – German Academic Exchange Service (ILRI-DAAD) PhD scholarships opportunities were available within the ILRI research project on ‘adapting dairy market hubs for pro-poor smallholder value chains in Tanzania.’

6. Uganda pig value chain actors to benefit from training modules on pig health, feeds, breeds and business development
The Smallholder Pig Value Chain Development (SPVCD) project in Uganda writeshop held early in the year to prepare eight training modules on pig health, feeding, breeding and economics (business management, enterprise development and finance). The modules will be used to deliver appropriate training interventions to service provider organizations, farmers and other actors of the value chain in Uganda

7. Performance of indigenous sheep breeds managed under community-based breeding programs in Ethiopia
A project report that provides preliminary results from breeding programs, evaluates progress in the implementation of community-based breeding programs (CBBPs), evaluates the growth and reproduction performance of Ethiopian sheep breeds kept under CBBPs and studies the effects of non-genetic factors on performance of sheep breeds in Ethiopia was published in April 2014.

8. Bangladesh aquaculture value chain development: Trends, status and likely future directions
The Bangladesh situational analysis that provides an assessment of past trends, current status, and likely future directions for the aquaculture value chain in Bangladesh was published in August 2014. The report is focused on: (i) the production and production systems of fish and shrimp; (ii) the consumption and expenditure of households; (iii) the value addition and marketing system; (iv) the export and import of fish; (v) inputs and services such as fish health, fish genetics, feeds, knowledge systems, access to credit, etc. (vi) food safety related to fish; (vii) the competitiveness of the fisheries sector; (viii) value chain governance; (ix) externalities; (x) aquaculture development strategies and activities; (xi) the research and development partnership; and (xii) a review of the opportunities for pro-poor fish value-chain development.

9. 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.

10. SNV signs collaboration agreement with ILRI for Livestock and Fish program
On 31 March 2014, Jimmy Smith, director general of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Tom Derksen, managing director for agriculture of SNV Netherlands Development Organization signed a memorandum of understanding to start of a formal collaboration between SNV and the ILRI-led CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish. It also opens up spaces for further collaboration between SNV and ILRI beyond the program.

The twenty most downloaded reports from our repository in 2014 were: