This workshop was conducted to assess the development prospects of India's livestock in the context of changing global economic environment and its impact on the rural poor, and to suggest politically feasible and practical strategies and approaches for pro-poor growth in livestock production. An additional aim of the workshop was to explore possibilities of enhanced research collaboration between the national agricultural research systems (NARS) and ILRI.

Farmers in mixed crop-livestock systems produce about half of the world’s food. In small holdings around the world, livestock are reared mostly on grass, browse, and nonfood biomass from maize, millet, rice, and sorghum crops and in their turn supply manure and traction for future crops. Animals act as insurance against hard times and supply farmers with a source of regular income from sales of milk, eggs, and other products.

Pig production is thriving in Uganda and the demand for pork is increasing, therefore offering potential for smallholder farmers for increased income through pig production. A multi-disciplinary value chain assessment conducted by the International Livestock Research Institute aimed to identify constraints and opportunities for pig producers as well as shortcomings in the safety of pork products in three districts in Uganda. Tools from participatory research were used to assess pork consumption habits as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices on pork safety among 295 pig producers.

Analyzes statistically, results of weighings made on two cattle groups at the Sarite cooperative ranch in the southern rangelands of Ethiopia & used as a fattening area to determine effects of place of origin, herdsmen group and sex (bull or castrate) on initial liveweight, weight gain & performance of animals, their purchase & sales prices and profits realised and calculates optimum liveweights at purchase & sale to maximize profits. Includes recommendations on the basis of the results.

high tech approach to livestock identification and tracking to protect cattle and manage grazing resources in Botswana and Kenya.

This report summarizes the proceedings of the workshop “Scaling Up Climate
Services for Farmers in Africa and South Asia,” held in Saly, Senegal on December
10-12, 2012. The workshop brought together more than 100 experts from 30 countries
and roughly 50 institutions to grapple with the challenge of supporting vulnerable
farming communities through the production, communication, delivery and evaluation
of effective agrometeorological information and advisory services; and to identify
practical actions to address those challenges at scale.

This report presents lessons learned from 18 case studies across Africa and South Asia that have developed and delivered weather and climate information and related advisory services for smallholder farmers. The case studies and resulting lessons provide insights on what will be needed to build effective national systems for the production, delivery, communication and evaluation of operational climate services for smallholder farmers across the developing world.