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Assessment of the status of artificial insemination and its constraints in East Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
No full textEthiopia's genetic enhancement efforts have included directly importing exotic cattle
from other countries or introducing genes from an external source via artificial
insemination (AI) to enhance the breed composition of local cattle. The study aimed
to evaluate the status of artificial insemination and identify its constraints in the
selected districts of East Arsi Zone, Oromia regional state. The data were collected
from 301 farmers and 9 AI technicians (AIT) using semi-structured questionnaires.
Five-year secondary data were used from the annual summary of the casebook to
evaluate AI status. Data on AI status, satisfaction, breeding method, controlled
mating and AI delivery were analyzed using Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) chi-
square procedures. Secondary data were analyzed using General Linear Model SAS
methods. The ranking coefficient was analyzed using the R software Plackett–Luce
model procedure. The study found that 43.52% of participants were dissatisfied with
AI services, while 56.48% were satisfied. Furthermore, 72.43% of respondents
indicated an increase in AI services, whereas 13.62% reported a decrease and
13.95% no change. The respondents' satisfaction with AI and AI status differed
(P0.05) between the production
systems. The secondary data revealed a gradual increase in AI delivery from 2018
to 2022. The average AI delivery was 2281.5±275.6 per year. While AI services did
not differ (P > 0.05) across districts, there was a significant (P< 0.05) variation over
time. About 55.48% of the districts' dairy producers used AI for breeding. Most
respondents (61.79%) received AI from government administrations, while 36.21%
received from government and private and only 1.99% obtained it from private
suppliers. Breeding methods varied significantly across production systems
(P<0.0001), but controlled mating and AI provision were non-significant. The farmers
preferred neighbor bulls with estimated coefficients of 2.24 followed by their bulls
(1.05) for breeding purposes. The respondents indicated that conception failure
(0.72) and poor conception rates (0.56) were the biggest challenges for AI in the
study areas. Transportation (2.89) was the main constraint in delivering AI services
identified by AITs. Despite these challenges, there has been an increase in the use
of AI in study areas over the past five years. Because AI is the only accessible
technology for increasing dairy cow performance in the country, it is vital to address
these challenges to increase AI utilization in the study regions. Focusing on semen
quality is necessary to achieve a high conception rate per service. Supporting
commercial AI businesses could improve farmers' access to services
Local to regional-scale mechanisms behind successful climate services for agriculture in Latin America
No full textThe provision of climate services (CS) has grown at an unprecedented rate over the last decade in response to climate-related risks in several sectors of the global economy; this is especially true in agriculture. Several studies document lessons learnt from (un)successful climate services, and attempt to distil these into key principles, recommendations, or requirements. However, limited systematic analysis and data on the characteristics of the CS that are conducive to success exist to date, including for agriculture. Here, we analyse the Local Technical Agroclimatic Committees (referred to here by its Spanish acronym MTAs) as a CS approach that effectively delivers information to farmers sustainably and at local scale. We propose a framework comprising sixteen metrics that help measure the effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability as key dimensions of CS success. We apply this framework to 26 MTAs across four Latin American countries, namely, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Colombia. The analyses revealed that the MTAs played a significant role in CS transformation pathways, producing a total of 158 outcomes (changes in behaviour of people or institutions), and involving at least 279 institutions at various levels and with diverse roles. Analyses of the sixteen metrics revealed a wide range of performance across the 26 MTAs, with nearly half of the MTAs considered to have or nearly-achieved effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability. MTAs success stems not only from an increase in numbers of farmers and locations reached but also from the evolving roles and responsibilities of a diverse ecosystem of actors that accompany enhanced capacities and tangible benefits on the ground. Based on these results, we propose key CS elements, namely, collaboration; participation; adaptability and flexibility; financial (crowd) resourcing; robust governance and strong leadership; awareness of and improvements in data availability, quality, and assurance; capacity development; user-centred communication; adequate incentives; and enabling policy environment
Unlocking financial inclusion for cocoa farmers: catalyzing solar irrigation investment in Ghana
No full textGhanaian cocoa farmers, who provide livelihoods for over 800,000 households, face significant threats from climate change, including erratic rainfall patterns and droughts lasting up to six months. These conditions jeopardize productivity and income stability. To address this, IWMI conducted research that informed innovative financial models now adopted by Access Bank through the Bridge-In Agric Loan. This loan program leverages IWMI’s financing framework to enable smallholder farmers to invest in solar-powered irrigation systems, fostering resilience against climate change, boosting cocoa yields, and improving economic stability. This brief captures the research process, outlines the Bridge-In Agric Loan’s impact, and offers actionable recommendations to scale the initiative for nationwide benefits
Weed control systems for upland rice production
No full textNearly one-quarter of the total rice area of the world is planted to upland rice (10). At least two-thirds of the production in Latin America and West Africa is from upland culture (3, 36). Probably 30-40 percent of the rice in the world is grown following dry soil preparation (23~.
Much of the upland rice in West Africa is grown on small farms under shifting cultivation. With this system, the farmer clears the underbrush towards the end of the dry season leaving the large trees of economic value intact (18). Generally the stumps and roots from~ hich the forest regenerates are left in the ground (13). The underbrush is allowed to dry and is then burnt. After the commencement of the rains, the farmer sows his crop of rice which may be mixed with other crop seeds using a hoe with which he scratches the surface soil to cover the seeds (18). Farms rarely exceed 1 hectare in size mainly~ because the farmer is unable to weed a larger area
Lessons Learned from Implementing the CAADP Biennial Review Process Under the Malabo Declaration
No full textThe Biennial Review (BR), launched under the 2014 Malabo Declaration, serves as the African Union's (AU) primary mutual accountability tool for tracking Member States' progress in implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). This brief, drawing lessons from four BR cycles, aims to inform the next phase of BRs in preparation for the domestication and implementation of the 2025 Kampala CAADP Declaration. While the BR has prompted policy and programmatic changes in several countries, its full impact is hindered by persistent challenges such as underfunding, weak monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacities, and data quality issues. Despite these hurdles, innovations like the eBR and national data clusters have led to improvements in data quality and reporting rates.
Still further improvements in data systems, capacities, and stakeholder engagement are urgently needed to strengthen the Biennial Review (BR) process. Key recommendations include adopting coherent data governance policies, promoting BR awareness and data utilization, refining the BR scorecard methodology, expanding data clusters to more countries, strengthening M&E capacities, ensuring inclusive BR validation, and integrating the BR database with M&E systems at both national and regional levels. Sustained political leadership, technical support, and domestic funding are critical to institutionalizing a robust, timely, high-quality, and impactful BR process that supports evidence-based decision-making and accelerates progress toward achieving the CAADP agrifood system transformation goals under the Kampala Declaration
Presentations for 2025 Global Food Policy Report | Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World
No full textOne Health units for the delivery of integrated health services in marginalised pastoralist communities of East Africa
No full textAfrica rises to combat drought and desertification
No full textInterviews Tahira Mohamed, ILRI and Jameel Observatory scientis
Innovative partnership scheme unlocks US$520,800 credit, boosting hundreds of Kenyan farmers’ resilience
No full textDuring a financial product launch, a pre-approved credit line of US$ 520,800, an innovative financing solution, was accessed by 334 farmers in one Kenyan county to procure drought-resistant seeds, manage rainwater runoff, and improve soil health. The bundled product integrates bank risk capital, insurance, and climate-smart advisory services. Enabled by CGIAR innovations, 569 farmers were trained, with 334 receiving funding approval. Partners Acre Africa and Shalem Investments will scale to 1,000 farmers by 2026, with a potential reach of 42,500