Baobab issue 58 july 2010

A magazine on drylands development and sustainable agriculture / ISSUE 58, JULY 2010

Enhancing small-scale
livestock
production

E D I T O R I A L

Dear Reader,
Welcome to the new look Baobab! The new magazine is a merger of the old Baobab
and Kilimo Endelevu Africa (KEA). It will now be longer, increasing in extent from
24 to 36 pages therefore enabling us to share more information that responds to the
growing needs of our readers in East Africa.

The merged Baobab will also feature more articles from the ‘AgriCultures’
network that produces Farming Matters, an international quarterly magazine
that focuses on small-scale sustainable agriculture.

Welcome to
AgriCultures is a global network of organisations
coordinated by the Centre for learning on sustainable
agriculture (ileia) and supports the production of

the new look regional editions in Latin America (Peru and Brazil),
West Africa (Senegal) and Asia (India, China and

Baobab
Indonesia) with new Baobab now being the East
African edition (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania).

Farming Matters, which was until this year known as
Leisa magazine, was started 25 years ago by a group
of enthusiastic people who believed that agricultural
practices recommended by scientists in universities and research
institutions were not always responsive to field level realities. They were
convinced that there was relevant and valuable knowledge among
farmers and field workers which needed to be captured and shared
more widely. Baobab has since inception served a similar function
with a focus on East Africa. It will continue to serve primarily
community development workers or infomediaries who constitute
ALIN’s membership in the region.

We also believe it will appeal to anyone interested in issues
affecting communities living in arid lands of Eastern Africa and
therefore provide an extra channel for sharing best practices in
agriculture and sustainable utilization of the environment.

The merger process involved close consultation with ileia. In
this inaugural issue, we carry an interview with Edith van
Walsum, the Director of ileia, who gives more details about
the process.

The theme for this issue is “Small-scale livestock
production”. We welcome your feedback and
ideas about making Baobab a more effective
forum for sharing information for sustainable
small-scale agriculture in our region.

James Nguo
Regional Director

Contents ISSN: 0966-9035

Baobab is published four times a year
to create a forum for ALIN members to
Livestock a smart network, share their experiences and learn
from experiences of other people working
solution for food and in similar areas.
farming 4
Editorial board
James Nguo
Multiple benefits of Anthony Mugo
Noah Lusaka
goat keeping 8 Esther Lung’ahi
Susan Mwangi – Chief Editor

4
Fighting East Coast Consulting Editor
fever - lessons from Wairimu Ngugi
Maasailand 11
Illustrations
Joe Barasa
Livestock breeding 13
Consulting Designer
Levi Wanyoike

Pastoralism, shifts in Important notices
policy making 15 Copyright: Articles, photos and illustrations from Baobab
may be adapted for use in materials that are development
oriented, provided the materials are distributed free of
Stork Story 18 charge and ALIN and the author(s) are credited. Copies of
the samples should be sent to ALIN.

8
Disclaimer: Opinions and views expressed in the letters
Small-scale livestock and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the
production-Malawi 20 editors or ALIN. Technical information supplied should be
cross- checked as thoroughly as possible as ALIN cannot
accept responsibility should any problems occur.
Capacity building for
Regional editions
PLWHA-Uganda 22
1. Farming matters global edition by ileia
2. LEISA REVISTA de Agroecologia, Latin America edition
Small-scale pig farming by Asociacion ETC andes.
- Uganda 26

Guest Column 30
15 3.
4.

5.
LEISA India, by AME foundation
SALAM majalah pertanian Berkelanjutan by VECO
Indonesia
AGRIDAPE, French West African edition by IED afrique
6. Agriculture, experiences em Agroecologia, the Brazilian
edition by AS-PTA
Camel milk 32
7. Chinese edition by CBIK

Talk to us

26
Baobab writing The Baobab magazine
guidelines & Call for Arid Lands Information Network, ALIN
articles 33 PO Box 10098, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
AAYMCA Building, Ground floor
Along State House Crescent,
Resources 34 Off State House Avenue
Tel. +254 20 2731557, Telefax. +254 20 2737813
Cell. +254 722 561006, Email: baobab@alin.net
Or visit us at www.alin.net
From our Readers 35
About ALIN
Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is an NGO that
facilitates information and knowledge exchange to and
between extension workers or infomediaries and arid lands

30
communities in the East Africa region. The information
exchange activities focus on small-scale sustainable
agriculture, climate change adaptation, natural resources
management and other livelihood issues.

THEME OVERVIEW

Livestock
a smart solution for food and farming
Animals are a part of farming systems everywhere. In this issue, Baobab focuses on
how small-scale farmers manage their animals, how they link animal husbandry
with other activities and what their livestock means to them. An integrated
perspective on the role of farm animals is crucial in overcoming simplistic
assumptions on the opportunities and threats that livestock presents to family
farmers. By Lucy Maarse

L
ivestock plays an important role in the
livelihoods of many farmers and herders in
the developing world, as it contributes to
the basics of food, income, and security, as well
as other social and cultural functions. Actually,
the world’s poorest people – nearly one billion
– depend on pigs, yaks (a wild domesticated
ox), cattle, sheep, lamas, goats, chickens, camels,
buffalos and other domestic animals. For
undernourished people, selling one egg may
imply being able to buy some rice and thus,
instead of having one meal per day, a second one
becomes reality. This is a typical survival strategy:
selling high-quality foods to buy low-cost starchy
Mrs Jerida Matasi a small-scale farmer milking her cow in Lugulu, Kenya
food. In other parts of the world, we see an over-
consumption of red meat and other animal-based
food, which damages the health of many people: manure and slurry over the land. It is therefore
it is a shocking dichotomy. a problem predominantly caused by western
consumption patterns, as has been discussed
Greenhouse gases produced by and studied by many researchers and authors
animals (for example, Jonathan Safran Foer in Eating
Animals). For some people, it is a reason to
According to the FAO study, Livestock’s long promote a vegetarian lifestyle, as a protest against
shadow: Environmental issues and options, animal exploitation.
published in 2006, livestock contributes to
18 percent of the total global greenhouse gas There are, however, great differences in livestock
emissions generated by human activity. Most production systems in various regions of the
of these emissions come from countries using world. These systems emit very different amounts
industrial farming practices, in the form of and types of greenhouse gases, and serve different
methane produced by the belching and flatulence purposes. Considering that all of Africa’s
of animals, carbon dioxide by felling and burning ruminants together account for three percent of
trees for ranching, and nitrous oxide by spreading the global methane emissions from livestock, their

4 BAOBAB ISSUE 58, JULY 2010

contribution is minor. But as Carlos Seré, director The growth in demand could imply enormous
of the International Livestock Research Institute opportunities for the poor, who could catch a
(ILRI), rightly points out: ruminants maintained substantial share of the growing livestock market.
on poor quality feeds make an inefficient But just 10 years later, Pica-Ciamarra and Otte
conversion of feed to milk and meat, and more show in The livestock revolution: rhetoric and
environmentally damaging. Skinny ruminants on reality, that this growth has been especially huge
poor diets, while not competing with people for in China, India and Brazil in the poultry, pork
grain, produce much more methane per unit of and dairy sectors. In sub-Saharan Africa and
livestock product than well-fed cattle, sheep and developed regions, the growth has been decreasing
goats. or stagnant. The geographical impact is patchy
even within the nations and the impact is largest
Yet many African livestock systems seem to be on poor urban consumers. The paper also observes
the best way to deal with climate change because that an increasing polarisation has occurred in the
these systems can be carbon-negative. According livestock sector.
to Mario Herrera and Shirley Tarawali from ILRI,
a typical 250 kilogram African cow produces Local developments
approximately 800 kilogram CO2 equivalents
The World Bank has embraced the notion of a
per year, whilst carbon sequestration rates (the
livestock revolution from the beginning, sensing
amount of carbon taken up in the soil) can be
opportunities for poor small-scale farmers in
about 1400 kilograms of carbon per hectare
developing countries. Jimmy Smith from the
per year under modest stocking rates, making a
Agriculture and Rural Development department
positive balance. The same goes for stall-feeding
of the World Bank admits that growth in the
dairy systems, which emit less CO2 due to higher
demand for animal products has not been
quality diets and better recycling of products
uniform: “Income growth has mostly happened in
within the system.
China. In South East Asia the demand for milk,
poultry meat and eggs has increased enormously.”
Livestock revolution revisited For Smith, this does not mean that the livestock
The notion of a “Livestock Revolution” was revolution did not occur: “Despite regional
introduced in an differences, changes
influential International
Food Policy Research
“It’s mostly the private have been so large that
it has influenced global
Institute (IFPRI) organisations that have trade, livestock and
publication in 1999. It climate. As smallholders
initially simply stood benefited from the are often not connected
for the unprecedented livestock revolution. Public to markets, they have
growth in demand for not been able to benefit
food of animal origin spending has been very low. as we would have
in developing countries,
because of population
Veterinary services have expected.”policymakers
to Smith,
According

growth, urbanization deteriorated. And there need to be more specific
and increasing income
(and subsequent
have been no investments in on local situations: “It’s mostly the private
changes in diets and links to markets.” organisations that have
life style). The idea benefited from the
that the Livestock livestock revolution.
Revolution would be driven by demand, contrary Public spending has been very low. Veterinary
to the Green Revolution which was supply driven, services have deteriorated. And there have been
strongly influenced the thinking in the sector. no investments in links to markets.” There are

BAOBAB ISSUE 58, JULY 2010 5

THEME OVERVIEW

more examples indicating that the livestock sector future demands for animal products without
is influenced by other factors, such as food price environmental damage. Strengthening and/or
policies, availability of animal feed and investment developing ecological, cultural and socially-sound
facilities for commercial farming. The idea of a livestock systems is possible, but it starts with
livestock sector that grows as a result of increased understanding the different functions of livestock
demand for meat is therefore misleading. It in rural livelihoods.
prevents governments from intervening and
identifying the real potentials that could stimulate Livestock means more than meat
a growth in the livestock sector that would and milk
be beneficial to poverty reduction and rural
Farmers keep animals for direct consumption
development at large.
of food and non-food products such as milk,
meat, wool, hair and eggs, but also manure for
Mixed farming fuel and urine for medicine (output function).
In Eastern Africa, one third of the rural Some of these products provide input for other
population lives in areas where livestock activities: manure, urine and grazing fallow land
predominate over crops as a source of income. are beneficial for crop production; stubble fields
Nearly 40 percent help pastoralists feed
of all livestock
are kept in mixed
Van der Ploeg (2009) brings theirdrought power for give
animals; animals

farming areas, where in the dimension of capital transport and their hair,
they contribute to hoofs and manure help to
rural livelihoods in when analysing farming disperse seeds and improve
diverse ways. Various systems in his book New seed germination; their
classifications grazing prevents bushfires
are used to Peasantries and controls shrub growth,
define livestock and stimulates grass
production systems. From a family farming tillering and breaking-up
perspective, livelihood criteria known as “the hard soil crusts (input function). But animals also
relative dependency on livestock at the household permit farmers to raise money in times of need
level” including the customary use of the terms (asset function). This often represents the priority
“pastoral”, “agro-pastoral”, and “mixed farming”, function of livestock among poor farmers, and is
place the livestock into perspective with all the the reason that animals are not necessarily sold
activities and resources through which households when the market price is attractive but when there
fulfil their needs. An agro-pastoral system would is a need for cash. Livestock are also part of the
be one in which livestock account for between household. They are indicators of social status,
50 and 80 percent of the total income, whereas a festivals and fairs are based on livestock (bullock
pastoral system would have livestock accounting cart racing, cock fighting, cow beauty contests)
for over 80 percent. and many songs have been written about livestock
(socio-cultural function).
Caution is needed in making generalised
statements about the links between livestock, Van der Ploeg (2009) brings in the dimension
consumption of meat, greenhouse gas emissions, of capital when analysing farming systems in his
climate change, food safety, poverty and animal book New Peasantries. There is the conversion
welfare issues. The context, functions of livestock of living nature (ecological capital) into food,
and trade-offs of animal husbandry are very drinks and a broad range of raw products.
different all over the world. The crux of the matter But controlling the complex organisation and
is to reach a situation in which family farming development of farming, needs communities to
and herding in the developing countries meet network, cooperate, self-regulate, solve conflicts,


and engage in learning processes (social capital). India, the Philippines and Thailand, has focused
Finally, farming and herding stand for a certain on the impact of increasing the average farm
culture and way of life (cultural capital), which size and annual livestock sales. There are some
are even more clearly articulated in these modern interesting conclusions regarding family farming
times, with anonymous global markets. Farming that can be noted. Independent small farms in
culture stands for origin, quality, authenticity and India and the Philippines typically have higher
freshness of products, and of associated ways of profits per unit than do independent large farms.
producing, processing and marketing (fairness and Small farms with pigs and poultry also have a
sustainability). lower negative impact on the environment than
large farms. Hence, environmental concerns are
The analyses of Rangnekhar (2006) and Van der compatible with promoting small-scale livestock
Ploeg (2009) can be combined in the diagram pr oduction. Climate-smart farming is the future,
below: as Camilla Toulmin, director of the International
Institute for Environment and Development
(IIED) stated at the ileia conference on the Future
of Family Farming in The Hague in December
2009.

About the author
Lucy Maarse is an independent livestock advisor,
specialised in tropical animal production and
extension. She currently works in the Netherlands.
Email: lucy.maarse@gmail.com

References
Delgado, C. (2008), Determinants and implications of
the growing scale of livestock farms in four fast-growing
Livestock Production Systems: their functions and relationships to capital developing countries, IFPRI Washington D.C. Research
report 157.
Livestock Production Systems: Delgado C., Rosegrant M., Steinfeld H., Ehui S.,
their functions and relationships to Courboi, C. (1999), Livestock to 2020 – The Next Food
Revolution. Food, Agriculture and the Environment. IFPRI,
capital Washington D.C. Discussion Paper 28.
The World Bank has already tried to adopt a more Van der Ploeg, J.D. (2009), The New Peasantries, struggles
inclusive approach to livestock. Smith points for autonomy and sustainability in an era of empire and
globalization, Earthscan, London, UK.
out that livestock is mostly used for input into
crops: “Some reports say that up to 50 percent of Pica-Ciamarra, U. and Otte, J. (2009), The livestock
revolution: rhetoric and reality. FAO Rome.
nitrogen use for crops comes from manure, which
Rangnekar D. (2006) Livestock in the livelihoods of the
means that livestock is incredibly important.
underprivileged communities in India: A review. ILRI,
Livestock has many uses and functions, which Nairobi, Kenya.
have not received enough attention. Public Steinfeld, H., Gerber, P., Wassenaar, T., Castel, V., Rosales,
investments are needed, in order to sustainably M., De Haan, C. (2006), Livestock’s Long Shadow –
develop the livestock sector and escape poverty.” environmental issues and options. FAO Rome.

Sere, C. (2009). ‘It’s time for climate negotiators to put
Climate smart rural development meat on the bones of the next climate agreement’.
www.ilri.org/ilrinews/index.php/archives/1006/
A recent study by Delgado (2008) on the scaling- comment-page-1#comment-50.
up of the production of some specific livestock
products among small-scale producers in Brazil,


PROJECT FOCUS

Goat
Multiple benefits of

keeping realised in
Mwingi
By Musembi Nzengu
The goat is one of the most adaptable and
geographically spread out livestock species in
the world, with an estimated population of
700 million. With a habitat ranging from the
mountains of Siberia to the deserts and the tropics
of Africa, goats provide reliable access to meat,
milk, skin, fibre, high quality manure and other
goat products. To boost goat breeding in Kenya
where many rural communities rear them for food
and income, Farm Africa, a Non-governmental
Organisation, has initiated pilot milk goat
projects in Mwingi, Kitui and Meru districts in
the Eastern Province of Kenya.

Benefits of Goat Keeping Koki with her dairy goat . Photo: Musembi Nzengu

According to the Mwingi District Farm Africa
Manager, Mr Jacob Mutemi, many people keep Ancient cave paintings depicting people hunting
goats for meat, skin and other benefits such as goats indicate that the animal has historically
manure but ignore the milk, unaware of its high played an important role in human food
nutritional and medicinal value. He explains that culture. Goats have traditionally contributed
in comparison to cow milk, goat milk has higher to ceremonial and cultural ceremonies
butter fat content and smaller fat globules that during functions such as marriage and dowry
are beneficial to sick people. Research findings negotiations, explains Mr Mutemi. He adds that
indicate that goat milk has the capacity to slow goat milk and cheese were historically revered
down the adverse effects of the life threatening in ancient Egypt, with some pharaohs placing
HIV virus, thus prolonging life, notes Mr goatrelated foods among the valuable treasures in
Mutemi. His views are echoed by the Mwingi their burial chambers.
District Range Management Officer, Mr John
Njagi, who says: “Goat milk is exceptionally good Mr Mutemi says that goat milk is nutritious
for HIV positive people and those with full blown and particularly good for young children
AIDS as it has been scientifically proven that it and the sick. It is a source of calcium and the
boosts the immunity of the sick.” He explains amino acid tryptophan, protein, phosphorus,
that his department is encouraging everyone riboflavin (vitamin B2) and potassium and bears
including those who are HIV positive to consume a close resemblance to human milk due to its
goat milk because it enriches the T-cells in the constitution. Research has shown that goat milk
blood. Infectious viruses normally attack T-cells, is a good alternative to breast milk for children
weakening the body’s defence mechanism. whose lactating mothers become sick or die, while


goat meat is soft and tender, says Mr Mutemi. He receiving two local goats in September 2004
however notes that although goat rearing had Ms Safari now owns eight crossbred goats. She
evolved for over 10,000 years, there is need for explains that since selling her goat for 15,000
a paradigm shift towards embracing milk goat (USD 190) Kenya shillings everyone in her village
rearing as opposed to rearing the animal solely wants the goats. “The community members have
for meat, skin and fibre. The table below from realised these goats grow faster and produce
Farmer Dairy Goat Production Handbook provides more milk than the local goats. My husband and
a comparison of nutritional value between goat, children are very happy with the project. I have
cow and human milk. been hosting many people who come to see the
goats. I have benefited from use
Content Goat Cow Human of manure and the milk we get
Protein 3.0 * 3.0 1.1 from the goats,” she explains
with a sense of pride. She adds
Fat 3.8 3.6 4.0
that her family’s social standing
Calories/100ml 70 * 69 68 has risen as they are held highly
Vitamin A (iu/100ml) 39 * 21 32 and considered a good example
Vitamin B (ug/100ml) 68 * 45 17 of those who have succeeded
in rearing the dairy goats. “My
Riboflavin (ug/100ml) 210 * 159 26
children are now very happy!
Vitamin C (mg ascorbic acid/100ml) 2 2 3 They know that they cannot
Vitamin D (iu/gram fat) 0.7 * 0.7 0.3 drop out of school due to lack
Calcium 0.19 * 0.18 0.04 of school fees.”
Iron 0.07 * 0.06 0.2
Ngooni Village Case
Phosphorus 0.27 * 0.23 0.06
Study
Cholesterol (mg/100ml) *Low is good 15 20
Ms Telesia Ndeng’e is a 38-
Source: Kaberia, B.K, P. Mutia, and C. Ahuya - Farmers Dairy Goat Production Handbook. * Shows the best nutrition
year-old widowed mother of
three who hails from Ngooni
Ngaani Case Study Village in Nzaatani location of Mwingi Central
Division. She says the introduction of goat rearing
Ms Koki Safari is a mother of three and one in Ngooni by Farm Africa was a godsend that has
of the leading goat farmers in Nuu Division emancipated her from the yoke of poverty. After
of Mwingi District. After defying all odds she only five years of marriage, Ms Ndenge’s husband,
recently made history by selling a crossbreed goat Mr Ndeng’e Muthui died in 2001, leaving her to
at Kenya shillings 15,000 (USD 190) which is an fend for three young children, Muthui who is now
equivalent of 10 times the price of a local goat in 13 and a Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
Nuu market. Narrated Ms Safari: “I joined Ngaani Candidate, Faith who is 10 and in standard 5 and
Dairy Goat Self-Help Group in 2004. The chief Nzasu who is in standard 3.
had called a baraza (a public meeting) and the
poorest people in our location were identified and Due to poverty, Ms Ndeng’e’s family suffered
requested to form a self-help group. We were told hunger among other problems, while crop
that an organisation called Farm Africa wished to production on their farm was impossible since she
assist the poorest within the location. To benefit had to keep seeking manual jobs. The family was
from the Project, we formed the Ngaani Group forced to sleep out in the cold when their mud
and registered it with Ministry of Culture and walled and grass thatched house caved in. After
Social Services.” She was given two local goats for their house collapsed, members of the Ngooni
crossbreeding with an exotic male Toggenburg Africa Inland Church donated seven iron sheets,
breed shared with other group members. Since which the family placed over the mud walls of


PROJECT FOCUS

their old house. Ms Ndeng’e reminiscences that by Farm Africa multiplied ten fold and by mid-
in 2001 soon after her husband died [prior to February 2010 she was the proud owner of 30
introduction of free primary education in Kenya] goats.
her eldest son was out of school for months
because she was unable to raise the 600 Kenya Each of Ms Ndenge’s goats produces at least one
shillings (USD 7.5) required for school fees. pint (0.6 litres) of milk per day and the income
realised from the sale of milk helps to supplement
After being identified as among the poorest of her earnings from community animal husbandry
services. She has saved enough money to take
her eldest son to secondary school next year and
plans to sell four mature cross-bred goats. As a
result of the goat project she is able to hire farm
hands while the use of goat manure has helped
to improved her farm yields and she expects to
harvest 20 bags of maize at the end of the season.

The goat project has raised Ms. Ndenge’s profile
and she is now recognised by the local community
as an opinion leader. “It is true my profile has
risen steadily and I now sit in the local locational
development committee meetings all the way
A dairy goat with full udder. Photo: Farm Africa
to the District Development Committee. I am
also often called upon by various NGOs to co-
the poor, Ms Ndeng’e qualified for assistance facilitate workshops on capacity building for
through the Farm Africa goat rearing project and women and community based groups,” she says,
became one of the 25 members of the Utethyo explaining that this earns her some additional
Wa Ngya (Hope of the Poor) community group income.
in Ngooni village. She was given four Gala milk
goats to be mounted by an exotic Toggenburg he
goat donated to the group to upgrade the local
breed. She and other members of the milk goat About the Author
project also received two-week training course as Musembi Nzengu is a writer based in Mwingi. He
corresponds for various newspapers in Kenya. He can
Community Animal Health Assistants and were be on reached on 0724 560832 or nzengumj@gmail.
each given a bicycle and a treatment kit. com

Reference
“Soon after the training, I started crisscrossing
Kaberia, B.K, P. Mutia and C. Ahuya “Farmer Dairy Goat
the village on my bicycle attending to sick goats Production Handbook.” Meru and Tharaka Nithi Dairy
and advising fellow farmers on how to manage Goat and Animal Healthcare Project (1996 - 2003): 1
common diseases,” says Ms Ndeng’e. She soon
started making some money out of the paravet
services. As a priority she built a permanent
two-roomed brick walled and iron sheet roofed
house to ensure that “my family could for once
sleep in comfort”. She was also able to ensure food
and clothing was readily availed to her family
members. Her fame as a para-vet spread and
soon people who were not members of her group
sought her help, which increased her income.
In the meantime the three goats donated to her


LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL

Fighting East CoastMaasailand
Lessons from
Fever
Every year, over one million cattle in East
and Southern Africa die from East Coast
Fever - about one cow every thirty seconds.
In East Africa the loss amounts to about
190 million US dollars each year.

East Coast Fever (ECF) (Theileriosis) is a cattle
disease caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria
parva. Though similar to Malaria, a tick called the
Brown Ear Tick transmits it. The disease mainly
occurs in Eastern and Southern Africa and is the
The vaccine has drasticaly reduced calf mortality from 80% to 2%.
number one killer of young cattle in the region.
work of Lynen’s pharmaceutical company VetAgro
Symptoms Tanzania, which has led the way in promoting the
In the event of infection, the parotid lymph nodes ECF vaccine in the region for over 15 years. As a
below the ear become enlarged 1 - 2 weeks after result of this achievement and a successful vaccine
infection. A few days later, fever develops along registration campaign, coordinated by the Global
with the enlargement of superficial lymph nodes Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines
in front of the shoulder and stifle. Other signs may (GALVmed), veterinary authorities in Kenya,
include: difficulty in breathing, a soft cough due to Uganda, Malawi and Tanzania have demonstrated
accumulation of fluid in the lungs, blood-stained renewed interest in vaccination as a means of ECF
diarrhea, muscle wasting and white discoloration control.
of the eyes and gums. The animal may appear
disturbed resulting in the so called “turning Alfred Kapolo Kumai, a livestock keeper in
sickness” and paralysis. Longido District in the north of Tanzania
is one of the few livestock keepers who
Ways of controlling East Coast Fever understand the disease well. He has
Treatment for a sick animal is expensive and costs enjoyed the benefits of the vaccine for quite
between US dollars 50 to 60. The survival rate
sometime. “Before I started the immunization,
is also minimal. Another loss is the reduction in
I would lose about eight calves from a total of
milk production. Regular dipping of cattle should
be maintained. However, this may be difficult to 10. Now I do not worry about that”.
attain in open herds without proper organization.
Treatment with antibiotics such as long acting Effective and affordable
Oxytetracycline can occasionally cure the disease. The vaccination programme in northern Tanzania
has resulted in over 80% of all calves vaccinated
Tanzanian pastoralists pdopt across many wards being protected for life.
vaccination to control East Coast
Fever Achieving this kind of success in a remote area
When asked about the success of vaccination with a vaccine, which depends on a cold chain
against ECF in northern Tanzania, Dr Lieve for delivery, and costs up to US$10 per animal, is
Lynen, is remarkably modest. And yet more than remarkable. But in Lynen’s view, the success should
500,000 animals have been vaccinated against be credited to two main factors: the efficacy of
ECF in Tanzania since 1998, largely due to the the vaccine, and the willingness of the Maasai
pastoralists to pay for the vaccine in order to


LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL

protect their herds and their livelihoods. “These by any livestock vaccine. However, up till now,
are livestock keepers who know cattle and who governments in East, Central and Southern Africa
know diseases,” she says. “They are willing to adopt have not supported widespread adoption of the
a technology if it works - to commit themselves ECF vaccine due to the complexity of delivering
to a product where they see it gives them a future the vaccine, which requires the vials to be stored
in livestock production.” VetAgro has a network in liquid nitrogen. Administering the vaccine also
of 90 delivery vets, trained in the ECF “infection requires training as the vaccine is administered in
and treatment” method and about to be officially combination with an antibiotic to allow antibodies
certified. Lynen feels this is crucial in order to to ECF to build up without the disease taking
resolve concerns about mismanagement by some hold.
vaccinators, including use of ‘dead’ vaccine, which Maintaining the production and supply of the
has been injected too long after removal from the vaccine is seen as the key challenge to widespread
cold chain, and cases of financial fraud. vaccination, and such private sector involvement
Sharing the success is an essential component. GALVmed is currently
News of the efficacy of the ECF vaccine spreads putting vaccination delivery out to tender in the
quickly amongst the pastoralist community once private sector; inviting bids that will be scrutinised
vaccination begins to be adopted in an area, by a panel of organisations, including the African
observes Lynen. However, VetAgro is also raising Union/IBAR and Pan African Vaccine Centre,
awareness through sensitisation days and use of which is responsible for quality control of all
film and radio. livestock vaccines on the continent. Hameed
Nuru, GALVmed director of policy and external
VetAgro is keen to work with community animal affairs, outlines what the panel will be looking for
health workers (CAHWs). Chosen and trusted by in the applications: “Number one, these business
their communities, they are well placed to connect proposals have to be sustainable, we have to
livestock keepers with certified vaccinators. A have continuity. Two - they have to be pro-poor,
partnership with the Babati-based Community pricing the product for poor people. And three,
Animal Health Network is currently being distribution of the production must be for a
developed by VetAgro to link with the many defined area.”
CAHWs who play an important role in alerting
their communities to disease outbreaks and have The intention is that all aspects of vaccine
been trained in recent years through various production and delivery will be in private hands
NGO programmes. Through this network, by the end of 2011. In the longer term, research is
VetAgro hopes to extend the reach of CAHWs for likely to focus on a new generation of vaccine that
organising and publicising vaccination days. does not require the liquid nitrogen cold chain or
the combined treatment with antibiotics.
According to Kapoo Lucumay, a veterinary
assistant and trained ECF vaccinator working in Private sector future
Longido district, Tanzania, arranging vaccination One vial of vaccine currently contains enough
days is not difficult once livestock keepers are doses for 40 animals. In future, the International
aware of the success of the vaccine. “It is the Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), which
livestock keepers who arrange it,” he says. “They produces the vaccine, may look at developing a
just talk and find out the number of animals smaller vial of just five or eight doses, providing
they have between them. Then they phone and a more marketable product for private sector
ask me to come and do the immunisation. There companies with an interest in setting up
is no problem, because they already know the vaccination services.
importance of this vaccine.” The article was adopted from
The “New Agriculturist” a WRENmedia production based in the UK.
Challenges www.new-ag.info
Developed 30 years ago, the ECF vaccine has Additional information from:
been shown to be a highly effective product, www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/653/animalDiseases
with a 95 percent success rate in pastoral herds www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=353
www.galvmed.org/news-resources/content/east-coast-fever-
- one of the highest rates of protection offered vaccine-registered-tanzania


TECHNOLOGY

Livestock breeding to increase
income for small-scale farmers By Paul Sandys
Cattle breeders in developing
countries have been challenged to
conserve valuable local breeds that
can survive harsh conditions unlike
imported breeds from industrialized
nations. Given that genetic change
has been a key driver of livestock
developments in the north for the past
200 years, breeding promises even
greater returns in the south today
since it enables livestock farmers get
out of poverty.

At the moment, the world’s livestock gene pool
is shrinking and extinction of any breed or
population means the loss of its adaptive attributes
which are under control of many interacting
genes. “With better and more appropriate breeds
and species of farm animals, many of the 600
million plus livestock keepers in poor countries
will be able to produce more milk, meat and eggs
for the fast-growing global livestock markets
thus pulling themselves out from poverty,” the
International Livestock Research Institute’s
Director General Dr. Carlos Sere observes.
A man conducts artificial insemination on a cow. Photo: Accelerated Genetics

According to him, sustainable breeding strategies
that conserve local breeds can bring about higher is contributing to the reduction of livelihoods
smallholder milk production now than ever options for the poor.
before. Of the more than 7,600 breeds recorded
by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), New market incentives
190 have become extinct in the past 15 years and a Addressing an international livestock conference
further 1,500 are considered at risk of extinction. in Nairobi, September 2009, Dr. Sere revealed
FAO estimates that 60 breeds of cattle, pigs, that the existing new market incentives are
horses, goats and poultry have been lost over the presenting opportunities and challenges alike for
last five years. developing countries.“Rising prices are driving
more indiscriminate cross breeding, which is
Of particular concern are the high rates of loss of leading to the extinction of tropical breeds, as
indigenous breeds in developing countries, which, well as to poorly performing second and third
coupled with inadequate programmes for the generation cross bred animals,” he pointed out
use and management of these genetic resources, and observed that new science based breeding


TECHNOLOGY

with farmers. He noted that new global trends
in prices of livestock products are opening up
opportunities for African small holder farmers.
Giving the example of Kenya where 80% of milk
is produced by small-scale farmers who own 6.7
million dairy cattle, he pointed that adoption of
better breeding techniques would results in better
adopted cattle in light of ongoing climate change.

Presently, Kenya is exporting milk powder to
neighbouring countries in sub-Saharan Africa,
South Africa, parts of Asia and the Middle East,
markets that have huge potential for expansion.
The achievements made in exploring these
Pastoralist cattle in Garissa, Kenya. Photo: ALIN
markets so far have been the result of increasing
collaboration between farmers and relevant
government departments on one hand and
technologies and policies that are now in place
the establishment of private milk processing
will raise smallholder dairy yields in sustainable
companies.
ways while conserving valuable local cattle breeds.

A biotechnology expert and a former head of
biotechnology at ILRI, Dr. Ed Rege, at the Sere notes that the new science
same meeting, advised scientists to evaluate based breeding technologies and
and introduce the short, small and muscular
hump-less West African N’dama breed of cattle
policies that are now in place will
in tsetse infested areas in East Africa. This is raise smallholder dairy yields in
due to that fact that the breed, which is kept by sustainable ways while conserving
farmers in free range village production systems
across 20 countries in West and Central Africa,
valuable local cattle breeds
has developed resistance to the deadly diseases
transmitted by tsetse fly. He also called for more
widespread rearing of the Boran breed as opposed
to other breeds in Africa due to its potential for
high beef production. About the Author
Paul Sandys is a correspondent who writes on
Rege challenged scientists to provide farmers agriculture and livestock. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
with good cows adding that the use of Artificial Email: dsjabris@gmail.com
Insemination (AI), that has been underutilized
lately, should be encouraged in providing
appropriate breeding materials. “High demand
for breeding females can be met through the
use of AI, but only with more private sector
participation,” he added.

He recommended that implementation of
new agricultural ideas in future need to take
a “bottom up” approach to ensure emerging
best practices are developed in consultation


LIVESTOCK: POLICY ISSUES

Pastoralism
shifts in policy making By Jonathan Davies
and Guyo M. Roba

Pastoralism provides a living for between 100 and 200 million households, from the Asian
steppes to the Andes. But misguided policies are undermining its sustainability. Baobab
asks how governments can best strengthen the governance of pastoral systems and
find more equitable ways to include pastoralists in policy making. Land tenure and joint
management prove crucial to the answer.

P
astoralism, the extensive production of
livestock in rangelands, is carried out in
climatically extreme environments where
other forms of food production are unviable.
Providing a livelihood for between 100 and 200
million households, it is practiced from the Asian
steppes to the Andes and from the mountainous
regions of Western Europe to the African
savannah. In total, its activities cover a quarter of
the earth’s land surface. As well as generating food
and incomes, these rangelands provide many vital,
Camels - handy animals for pastoralists. Photo: Jonathan Davis
and valuable, ecosystem services such as water
supply and carbon sequestration: services that
are being degraded through misguided rangeland Securing land tenure in Garba Tula
investments and policies.
This past decade however has seen a promising
Although some countries now officially recognize shift by several governments to recognize and
the value of pastoralism, negative perceptions regulate access and tenure rights over pastoral
still pervade. Pastoral policies are either non- resources. Improvements have been made in
existent or, where they do exist, are barely Niger (1993), Mali (2001) and Burkina Faso
enforced. Establishing communal land tenure is (2002). Mongolian government policy now
crucial because it creates pastoral rights of access, supports communal land tenure through placing
provides opportunities for individuals to seek greater control of natural resources in the hands
optimal ways of exploiting available resources, and of customary institutions [see box]. Benefits
facilitates changes in resource equity. However, have impacted both pastoral livelihoods and the
the common property regime, which allows conservation of herders’ rangeland environments.
pastoralists to sustainably manage vast areas of Against this backdrop, it is important to identify
land, is undermined by laws and policies that and support processes that can help strengthen
promote the individualization of land tenure. As a the governance of pastoral systems, as well as local
result, dry-season grazing reserves have been lost, land use and the environment. Pastoral societies
livestock mobility has been restricted, land tenure also need to find more equitable ways of including
has been rendered insecure and land degradation pastoralists in the policy-making processes, as
has increased, undermining the sustainability of well as in the design of technologies and the
the pastoral livelihood system. make-up of the customary institutions that shape


LIVESTOCK: POLICY ISSUES

livestock production systems and environmental are poorly accountable to local communities
governance. who in turn are poorly informed of their rights.
Contrary to popular perception, trust land is
In Garba Tula in northern Kenya, weak land not government land and it can provide a strong
tenure was identified as one of the key obstacles form of tenure if the community understands
in the bid to improve the livelihoods of the both its rights and the legal mechanisms to assert
region’s 40,000 predominantly Boran pastoralists. them. Garba Tula residents now document their
Garba Tula, an area extending over around customary laws and are encouraging the County
10,000km2, has extraordinary biodiversity, Council to adopt them as by-laws. This will also
but the full potential to conserve it was not
being met, and people and their livelihoods
were threatened by wildlife. In an initiative that
emerged from meetings held by community
elders in 2007/8, a Community Based Natural
Resource Management (CBNRM) approach
was set up to strengthen tenure. Spearheaded by
a Community Task Force and strengthened by
expert-facilitated consultations, the community
arrived at a common understanding of CBNRM
as “a way to bring local people together to protect,
conserve and manage their land, water, animals
and plants so that they can use these natural
resources to improve their lives, the lives of their A boy herding camels. Photo: Jonathan Davies

provide a foundation for developing a range of
investments that are compatible with pastoralism,
such as mapping wildlife dispersal routes;
residents are also interested in ecotourism.

The Community Task Force is setting up a local
trust to manage the process and the painstaking
procedure of ensuring community and local
government buy-in is supported by a number of
development, conservation and wildlife agencies
as well as government. Since the vast majority of
Kenya’s drylands are legally trust land, the Garba
Tula experience could set a precedent for securing
land tenure in other areas.
Mixed herds such as this one are common in East African range lands.
Photo: Jonathan Davies Encouraging community
engagement
children and that of their grand children”. The
Policies and institutions must empower
strategy should improve the quality of people’s
pastoralists to take part in policy-making that
lives “economically, culturally and spiritually”.
affects their livelihoods. This will also promote
equitable access to resources, facilities and
Land in Garba Tula is held in trust by the County
services, and guarantee sustainable land use
Council, but county councils generally exercise
and environmental management. The right
strict control over the allocation of land and
pastoral policies will also aid the process of


Published research on African pastoral
systems has steadily overturned many of
the misconceptions about pastoral systems,
highlighting the importance of appropriate
strategies to manage the variability of the climate
in dryland environments. Effective management
strategies will allow for diverse herds of variable
size and keep them mobile. There are increasing
opportunities for pastoralists to capitalize on
environmental services such as the maintenance of
pasture diversity, vegetation cover and biodiversity
through ecotourism or through Payments for
Environmental Services. The Kenyan example
Reduced vegetation cover is a threat to livelihoods in dry lands. Photo: Jonathan Davis shows that even in Africa, where competition over
public funds is tough and such schemes are poorly
democratization and ensure improved governance supported, the situation can be changed through
in pastoral areas. In addition to addressing issues community empowerment and government
related to livestock production, health and accountability.
marketing, pastoral policies should also tackle
critical issues such as healthcare, education, land About the authors
rights and women’s rights as well as governance, Jonathan Davies (jonathan.davies@iucn.org) and Guyo
ethnicity and religion. An important lesson from M. Roba (guyo.roba@iucn.org) both work in Nairobi,
Kenya, for the International Union for Conservation of
Garba Tula is that the policy environment may
Nature (IUCN). Davies is Regional Drylands Coordinator,
be more supportive than imagined, and what is Roba is Programme Officer Drylands.
missing might not be the policies so much as the
capacity for taking advantage of them.

Policies and institutions must empower
pastoralists to take part in policy-making
that affects their livelihoods. This will also
promote equitable access to resources,
facilities and services, and guarantee
sustainable land use and environmental
management.


STORK STORY

Stork
story

It’s important
for you to think of the
future. Right now it is raining,
but a time will come when
there will be no rain. Then
there will be no grass for
your animals.

I encourage
you to cut grass, dry it and
make hay, then store it away.
Your cows and goats will
feed on that when the rains
stop

Wow!
I have learnt a lot PAAH!
today! I’m going to cut Too much
grass and dry it, just work!
as OFISA said

Aaagh!
That’s too
much work! I’m
not going to
do that!


some months later...
This life is hard!
Why is this happening?
It hasn’t rained for
four months!!

there’s no
grass for my
animals!

Eh, Wangombe, No, they are
your animals all doing well. I’m feeding
are not dying? them on the hay I made.
Just as oFISA advised us. I
can give you some grass
for your animals

Ah, here
she is! She had It’s always
promised to come good to listen
today to see how we and apply techni-
are doing cal advice from
ofisas!

HAllo!

I should have
listened to you.
My animals are all
dying!


ON THE SUBJECT OF

livestock
Small-scale

production A livelihoods perspective in Phalombe District - Malawi
by Wellings Mwalabu

P
halombe is a district in the South Eastern In some circumstances the goats are allowed
part of Malawi part of which lies below to graze freely in the community compounds.
the Mulanje Mountain while the other Supplementary feeding is done through the
part borders Lake Chilwa and Mozambique. The provision of maize bran mixed with salt. This is a
majority of the people rely on subsistence farming. cheaper way of raising the goats since little time is
Recently however, increasing population pressure spent caring for them. The system also promotes
on land for farming is forcing more inhabitants to cross breeding with goats from other compounds.
go into fishing for food and to earn a living. This could be advantageous to families that aim at
increasing their animal vigour.
While fish farming may be an alternative to crop
farming for food, a sizeable population in Waruma Experience has it that one female goat will give
community in Phalombe District has their own birth three times in 24 months. By the time the
story to tell. They have for the past five years been goat gives birth for the third time the firstborn
working with a church development organisation kid will have been mated. A mature fully grown
in the name of Blantyre Synod to promote small- goat will fetch an average of $50. This is no small
scale farming for food and household income achievement for a subsistence farmer. The money
generation. The project targets vulnerable could buy three 50 kg bags of maize grain, which
members of the community such as the elderly, is the staple food for this community. Village
disabled, people living with HIV and AIDS and committees make arrangements for the first kid
women. These categories of people generally have to be passed on to another deserving farmer in
less energies or resources to work on farmland. a nearby community. In this way the process
The church has supported them to raise goats, continues to benefit a wider community.
local chicken and guinea fowl for food to improve
their nutrition and generate income. Small-scale livestock development has also been
linked to Integrated Aquaculture Agriculture
How it is done (IAA). This allows livestock to grow and graze
within fish pond areas. The goats and chicken
Village committees identify eligible household
droppings are thrown into the ponds that
members who are given either of the livestock for
eventually support the growth of small plants
breeding. Those that get a goat are encouraged to
under water (zooplanktons) that become feed for
construct a goat house raised off the ground that
fish. Fish is harvested every six months for food or
allows goat droppings slip through to the ground.
sale. This integration brings mutual dependency
This reduces concentration of urine which may
and maximizes farmer benefits.
result in accumulation of diseases in the house.


employment opportunities are limited households
keeping a diversity of livestock stand better
chances to increasing household income thereby
mitigating hunger especially in the lean months
of December through March. The raising of
small-scale livestock is therefore one quick step
towards achieving sustainable livelihoods for
most vulnerable community members of the
community.

A farmer gives supplementary feed to his goats after free grazing-in the background
raised goat kraal constructed from local materials; Blantyre Synod project - Malawi

General advantages
Small-scale livestock development can be
achievable with little inputs yet more benefits for
poor households. The droppings from goats and
chickens make up a concentrated base of compost
manure, which can improve the growth of various
vegetation in the community homes including,
Integrating livestock development into fish farming; Blantyre Synod project - Malawi
nourishing fish ponds. The practice requires only
small spaces and less labour yet the production
becomes immensely large. Small stocks reproduce
prolifically therefore the numbers increase very About the Author
quickly. Wellings Mwalabu,
Church of Central Africa Presbyterian
Blantyre Synod, Malawi

Email: wmwalabu@bsdc1.com

A small holder farmer taking care of her turkeys; Blantyre Synod project-Malawi

The practice allows a subsistence farmer to
diversify his sources of income besides diversifying
household diet. In a typical rural area where


FA R M E R S ’ H E A LT H

Let’s talk about

AIDS
Capacity building for People
Living with HIV and AIDS - a
prerequisite in fighting stigma
and discrimination.

HIV and AIDS has become part and their limited awareness and knowledge about
parcel of our lives. We all know their rights as well as absence of the appropriate
advocacy skills. The district PLWHA network
someone living with HIV and AIDS
lacked the required resources needed to
or has been infected or affected by mobilise the rest of the members resulting in a
the condition. The agriculture sector communication gap, which consequently lead
has also been affected by it and to the disregard of PLWHA views. They also
therefore the need for harmonious lacked skills to effectively engage in lobbying and
treatment of those infected. Below advocacy for their rights. Capacity building,
therefore, became the necessary key tool for
is a case study of how ACORD
building up a strong network of PLWHA.
Northern Uganda - Gulu has dealt
with stigma and discrimination. Capacity building targeting PLWHA entailed
skills building workshops on stigma and
General Background discrimination; exchange visits to other networks
People living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) within the country for experience sharing;
have a critical leadership role in challenging HIV provision of office space and equipment for the
and AIDS related stigma and discrimination. To district PLWHA network, as well as facilitating
effectively participate in processes that address representatives of the network to present their
stigma and discrimination, it is vital that PLWHA views about their rights during various district,
understand how stigma is manifested as well as be national and regional forums. These interventions
equipped with the appropriate skills to challenge were the key capacity building entry points for
it. Capacity building is central to this. PLWHA networks to engage with the district
and other development agencies in order to
This case study illustrates the important role advocate for their rights and entitlements. The
that building the capacity of PLWHA played in capacity of members was also enhanced through
a project that centered on addressing the rights close professional interaction with ACORD staff,
of PLWHA, with a focus on HIV related stigma which, in part, contributed to the development of
and discrimination. The one-year project was skills and confidence.
implemented by Agency for Cooperation and
Research in Development (ACORD) in Gulu Objectives
district in collaboration with the Gulu District
Network of PLWHA. Capacity building was carried out with the
following strategic objectives:
The PLWHA in Gulu District have long been
facing perpetual neglect and discrimination. • Equipping PLWHA and local leaders with
The Government as well as other development enough information about their rights in order
agencies have excluded their needs from for them to effectively address HIV and AIDS
development plans. This was, in part, due to related stigma and discrimination


• Improve coordination and networking skills The skills building workshops were facilitated by
for the PLWHA networks PLWHA who have knowledge and experience in
lobbying and advocating for rights of PLWHA
• Ensuring that all the other PLWHA (including as well as vast information on current debates
members and non-members of the district and other processes at the national level. Some
network) receive the required information of the facilitators were also selected from within
from those who attend capacity building Gulu including staff from Ugandan Human
workshops during community meetings Rights Commission (UHRC) and The Aids
Organisation (TASO) as they were highly familiar
• Ensuring that the PLWHA know what actions with issues of stigma and discrimination in the
to take if and when their rights are violated local context.

• Improving advocacy skills of PLWHA

• Documentation of testimonies of PLWHA The skills building
in order to share with others workshops focused on
• Enabling members from different locations a wide range of issues
within the district to meet and share
experiences identified by the PLWHA
Approach
that related to their rights.
In order to build capacity for PLWHA in
Gulu district, ACORD started by organizing To further strengthen skills acquired during the
a consultative meeting for the PLWHA district workshops, participants were then exposed to
network executive so as to introduce the project experiences from other regions through review
as well as assess the training needs. As part of meetings with the district network of PLWHA
the consultative meeting, the research report in Mbarara Western Uganda. The Gulu district
Understanding and Unraveling HIV Related network of PLWHA was also provided with office
Stigma and Discrimination was presented and space within the ACORD premises which gave
formed the basis for initiating the project. them an opportunity to be mentored and gain
Using this process, the specific areas of focus skills in various areas through working closely and
for PLWHA in Gulu district were identified regularly with the ACORD HIV and AIDS focal
and formed the basis for the skills building officer.
programmes. During the consultation, PLWHA
also identified the participants for the workshops Factors that facilitated effective
who included the PLWHA leaders at district level capacity building
and the sub county political leaders. ACORD
recognized that, as leaders, these participants Resource availability
would be in position to effectively put in practice Sufficient human, logistical and financial resources
the different skills acquired from the workshops. were the basic initial requirements used in the
enhancement of capacity levels of PLWHA. With
The skills building workshops focused on a sufficient support from the Ford Foundation,
wide range of issues identified by the PLWHA ACORD was able to conduct the training
that related to their rights. These included workshops and as well facilitate various processes
understanding stigma and discrimination; rights that lead to the exposure the PLWHA to different
of PLWHA as human rights; will writing and forums for experience sharing and learning and
coordination and networking and advocacy. ultimately, skills building.


FA R M E R S ’ H E A LT H

Access and availability of communication the trainings and provide all the necessary
mediums and facilities information for the facilitator. ACORD HIV/
AIDS Team compiled guidelines on various
Easy access and use of communication facilities
aspects related to HIV and AIDS care and
was and is a necessary factor to achieving
support for PLWHA, which they used for
effective capacity building. To achieve this radio
PLWHA skills workshops.
and telecommunications mediums were used
to mobilize participants for the workshops.
Drawing clear plans and holding regular
Developing networks with the media (particularly
radio - as this is the most efficient communication planning meetings
medium) enhanced the frequency and ease of ACORD in Gulu held a number of consultative
communication, which in turn enhanced capacity meetings with the PLWHA leadership and
building. the local councilors that focused on assessing
information needs. These events generated issues
Selecting the right target Group related to HIV stigma and discrimination and
Identifying and selecting the right target group were subsequently incorporated in the workshop
that will have the capacity to absorb, fully utilize curriculum which facilitated a clear planning
lessons learned. In this case, PLWHA were process and ensured effective implementation
identified through consultative meetings and of the capacity building process amongst the
were expected to give feedback to their colleagues targeted PLWHA district network.
during community meetings and the local
leaders who were to mobilize and sensitize the Use of competent training facilitators
community. ACORD Gulu, in collaboration with Having competent facilitators who have the
the district network, selected leaders of PLWHA relevant knowledge, experience and training skills
from different associations in Gulu district and for the planned topics. ACORD used highly
the sub county Chairpersons to participate in trained facilitators who were mainly PLWHA
a workshop on stigma and discrimination. The (as they would identify greatest with those facing
leaders developed an advocacy strategy and plan stigma and discrimination) who have adequate
of action to be implemented in their respective training.
constituencies.
Monitoring progress
Relevancy of skills training Establishing a strong monitoring framework
Capacity building initiatives are likely to be more coordinated by PLWHA who are responsible for
successful in situations where they are relevant conducting follow-ups to assess the effectiveness
to the identified information needs of the target of the capacity building process. The district
population – in this case, PLWHA. The PLWHA network, in collaboration with ACORD, held
leaders in Gulu shared the information gaps quarterly review meetings for assessing progress
during the skills building workshop. As a result, in the different PLWHA associations. The review
subsequent workshops focused on identified meetings were utilized to identify challenges as
information needs that led to more interest by well as plan for subsequent periods.
the leaders and enhanced their desire to learn and
share the taught information and skills. Outcomes of the capacity building
processes
Availability of Skills training materials
• Through the workshops, PLWHA developed
Developing short and well-designed manuals confidence to share their personal experiences
or training materials and other Information by giving oral testimonies. These were
Education and Communication (IEC) materials documented and developed into materials
is important. These can act as a guide during on violation of rights of PLWHA, which


will continue to be vital advocacy tools for this and played it on radio using spot messages
the rights of PLWHA. The documented and, resulting from this, some PLWHA have
testimonies are important for purposes of reported positive response from the responsible
lobbying to policy makers in order to draw organizations.
their attention to the needs of PLWHA and to
the existing policy gaps leading to the violation • The PLWHA network has been equipped
of rights of PLWHA. with knowledge, skills and information for
coordination with other partners. They
now have the confidence to lobby for all
the necessary support from all service
These events generated providers. They have managed, so far,
issues related to HIV to get support from Northern Uganda
Malaria AIDS and TB programme and,
stigma and discrimination at sub county level; some of the groups
have been lobbying and getting support.
and were subsequently The network now works regularly and
incorporated in the has developed partnerships with other
organizations like National PLWHA
workshop curriculum Forum (NAFOPHANU).

• The district PLWHA network developed
documentation and analytical skills. For
instance, they were able to conduct a needs For more information contact:
assessment and situation analysis of members Dennis Nduhura
Program Manager ACORD HASAP
with the objective of coordination and dennis.hasap@acord.or.ug
improvement of service delivery.
Jacinta Akwero
Program Officer HIV/AIDS, ACORD Gulu
• AIDS service providers in the district have acordgulu@yahoo.co.uk
started using the PLWHA networks in the Abwola David Sunday
sub county as their entry point for service Tech. Advisor HIV/AIDS ACORD, Gulu
provision. sabwola@yahoo.co.uk

• The engagement of the media in the
workshops has scaled up information
dissemination amongst the community
about the project focusing on the roles of the
PLWHA district and sub county networks.
A lot of advocacy work has also been done
through the involvement of the media in
the capacity building workshops; e.g. the
issue of nutritional support to PLWHA had
been a very serious problem and some of the
PLWHA names had been deleted from the
beneficiary lists. During one of the capacity
building workshops, the media recorded the
message from PLWHA that had experienced


TECHNICAL NOTE

Small-scale
Pig Farming
for Income Generation in Lukwanga, Uganda
By Ndugga Evaristo

P
ig farming in the rural areas is an important
economic activity that can involve all
members of the family and provide much
needed income. A farmer from Lukwanga
parish, Wakiso district of central Uganda shares
experiences in small-scale pig farming and
highlights the advantages, challenges and lessons
learned.

Pig Farming Methods
Pig farming under a tree shade
Farmers in Lukwanga have traditionally reared
pigs through this simple technology.
Pigs reared in a locally made piggery unit in Lukwanga ,Uganda.
Photo: Ndugga Evaristo
Method
Select a tree with good canopy to shield the • Feeds are lost through trampling and
animal(s) from direct sunlight. Tether the scattering by the animals.
animal(s) under the tree and provide appropriate
• It is difficult to tap the urine and dung for
feed (zero grazing) and water on a regular basis.
manure that can improve crop yields.
In Lukwanga mango and jackfruit trees are
well known for providing the best shade for pig Deck piggery
rearing. A deck piggery for sheltering the animals is easy
Advantages to construct using the following materials and
method:
The system is cheap and easily affordable to
majority of farmers. Materials
Challenges Nails and a hammer; a hoe; 10 poles and enough
timber for fencing the deck; measuring tape and
• It is difficult to maintain cleanliness especially string; polythene sheet for roofing the deck.
during the rains. As a result worms infest
the pigs and the farmer incurs the costs of Method
treatment. • Choose a raised and gently sloping site where
water can easily flow out
• The pigs waste a lot of time searching the soil
for worms and other insects; this distracts • To provide space for two pigs mark out an
them from feeding and affects the yields. area measuring 5 feet by 8 feet


Baobab issue 58 july 2010

Empfohlen

Empfohlen

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Ähnlich wie Baobab issue 58 july 2010

Ähnlich wie Baobab issue 58 july 2010 (20)

Baobab issue 58 july 2010