Commercialisation of fodder & fodder seed production by louise mugweni
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Commercialisation of fodder & fodder seed production by louise mugweni
- 1. LOUISE MUGWENI Commercialisation of Fodder & Fodder Seed Production African Livestock Conference & Exhibition (18-20 June 2014)
- 2. Background and Rational - Many parts of Southern Africa experience cyclical droughts - Resultantly loss of livestock and curtail rangeland grazing opportunities - Animals in response to these shocks lose market value - Spread of animal disease & decline in the health and herd numbers of livestock - Price constraints and distance from fodder markets - Smallholders risk facing a diminishing profitability in their enterprises - Evident need to bolster fodder supplies
- 3. Zambia Fodder Pilot (ZFP) Project (2012-2014) - US$2 Million USAID/OFDA funded - Choma, Kazungula & Sesheke Districts - Researched, developed and tested fodder and fodder seed production systems - Use of appropriate technologies - Income generating opportunities to 920 small fodder suppliers
- 4. Approaches towards commercialisation Step 1: FODDER AS A CROP -PROMOTIONAL MESSAGES -Focus on FARMERS TO PRODUCE FODDER FIRST Step 2: FODDER AS A BUSINESS -Market research -Presentation of gross margins -Marketing
- 5. - Demonstration plots - Use of farmer field schools - Fodder and fodder seed on-field management practices - Construction of fodder and fodder seed storage facilities - Fodder IGAs training and mentoring - Artisan training, toolkit procurement and distribution (start-up toolkit enabled them to market and sell harvesting tools to fodder farmers) - Development of a Fodder and fodder seed production manual Approaches towards commercialisation
- 7. - Grasses: Rhodes grass Napier grass Foxtail grass Forage sorghum - Legumes: Velvet beans Cowpea Sunn hemp (Red) Dolichos - Maize silage
- 10. Categories of farmers engaged in commercialization 1. Fodder producers who had no livestock (started off with a commercial perspective in mind) 2. Fodder producers who had livestock and engaged in inter- farm enterprise transfers – farmers who realised changes- increase in milk production, improved body condition- increased ha in second season 3. Specialised seed producers
- 11. Strides made towards commercialisation - 594.58 ha have been put under commercial fodder or fodder seed production by 920 (537F:383M) - 83.5% applied at least one technology - 17 sold and 65 entered into agreements - 242 farmers linked to 82 fodder producers - 32 artisans trained in sustainable fodder production fodder production systems and technologies - 20 fodder seed growers monitored by the Seed Certification and Control Institute
- 13. Constraints - Low literacy levels - Farmer dependency syndrome - Unpredictable weather conditions affecting harvests
- 14. Lessons Learnt - Market driven approach - Fodder production was a new product on the market that required more time - Short term nature of programme does not declare conclusive results - Coordination and planning- timely availing of inputs - Involvement of government ministries
- 15. Other models of commercialisation - Out grower models- In Ethiopia 583 farmers under the EDDP linked to a seed company US$1,449 (2008/9) ; US8,211 (2009/10) ; US$11,484 (2010/11) - Farmer society-owned large scale fodder production - Large scale commercial fodder producers supplying farmers and dairy societies- Red Dane & Debrians Farms in Zimbabwe
- 17. THANK YOU!!
Notas del editor
- Many parts of Southern Africa experience cyclical droughts and floods that starve and kill livestock and curtail ongoing communal rangeland grazing opportunities. Natural disasters also reduce the health, strength and productivity of the remaining livestock that smallholders own – hence animals sold in response to shocks lose market value due to their typically poor body conditions. During the dry season periods, animals subsist either on dried pasture grasses with high fiber and low nutrient content, or they consume crop residues. Livestock grazing on dried pasture grass degrades plant species and exposes bare ground, which results in surface water run-off, poor water absorption, soil compaction, water and wind erosion of topsoil, and a cycle of increasing soil degradation. While lack of fodder availability is a chief concern during the dry season, price constraints also limit fodder access for smallholder livestock producers in current fodder markets. Current fodder stocks exist primarily in urban and peri-urban markets, which cater for medium and large livestock producers. Hence the need is evident to bolster fodder supplies for smallholder households most likely to be adversely affected by the loss of an animal, or by the reduced yields that result from poor soil fertility. Although commercial livestock producers can invest in and maintain access to fodder, smallholders and vulnerable households are typically unable to make these investments.
- My presentation is based on best practices and lessons learnt from a $2 million USAID/OFDA funded project implemented in Zambia by Land O’ Lakes. Most smallholder livestock farmers (dairy, multipurpose and goat) in southern Zambia are subsistence farmers who engage in extensive low-input production techniques. The Zambia Fodder Pilot researched, developed and tested fodder and fodder seed production systems as a means of alleviating household vulnerability to shocks. It used appropriate technologies and provided income-generating opportunities to 920 small fodder suppliers. The Zambia Fodder Pilot taught vulnerable fodder-producing farmers which crops can be grown to best meet the needs and demands of nearby smallholder livestock producers. Hence a number of steps were taken by the project to encourage smallholder farmers to invest in the commercialisation of fodder and fodder seed production
- Subsistence-based livestock producers lack a full understanding of the value of fodder to generate income and to preserve the health and value of their livestock, which serve as a buffer against shocks. Farmers do not produce fodder because it is not currently perceived as a crop that provides critical nutrition to animals. Most smallholder livestock farmers in southern Zambia are subsistence farmers who engage in extensive low-input production techniques. These farmers generally do not yet recognise that feeding animals more during the dry season will not only preserve the health and value of their livestock but will ensure that these animals maintain their value in markets. Unlike staple crops, fodder crops have a short growth period and generally require less rainfall. Therefore fodder crops do not directly compete for time with food crops during planting, weeding and harvesting, and they also provide a better option for crop rotation. Hence promotional messages were broadcast sharing the advantages of producing and feeding fodder to livestock Group formation- ease of training, farmers learning from one another, bulking & selling and realising the benefits of economies of scale. Increase farmer bargaining power for better prices
- Demonstration plots- By testing the potential viability of a variety of low-input fodder types on-farm demonstration plots, the ZFP project demonstrated the nutritional benefits, productivity and marketability of each crop, as well as preservation systems that effectively maintained their quality. Diversity in production and preservation systems increased the adoption of technologies, as farmers selected the model that fit them best. Farmer Field Schools began with a guided inquiry helping farmers identify local fodder resources and compare the plants currently used to feed livestock against what might be used. FFS focused on the establishment of planned fodder crops, land preparation, fodder establishment, weeding, scouting for pests and diseases, CA-integrated fodder production practices, fodder and fodder seed harvesting practices and post-harvest technologies; perennial fodder stands management practices, fodder market linkages establishment, animal husbandry. Therefore training was used as a vehicle to build the capacity of the smallholder farmers in fodder and fodder seed production and equip them with the necessary skills to manage their enterprises viably. Community-based artisans were trained on appropriate tools for harvesting and utilisation of fodder. A production manual was developed to share best practices and lessons learned in fodder testing, production and use (marketing and/or feeding to own livestock).
- 20 seed growers were trained and monitored by the Seed Certification and Control Institute (SCCI) to assess whether their seed crops met the required vegetative stage standards for seed production (crop spacing, isolation distance from other crops and sound crop management). All 20 met this standard for seed production.
- Commercialisation awards the farmer a degree of independence and the project a measure of sustainability as farmers no-longer rely on hand-outs. However within a two year period getting the farmers to fully commercialise without expecting subsidies was a challenge. Mind-set change is ultimately a medium to long-term effort.