Christoph Reiber

POTENTIAL AND CONSTRAINTS OF LITTLE BAG SILAGE FOR SMALLHOLDERS-RESULTS AND EXPERIENCES FROM HONDURAS

Little bag silage (LBS) is seen as a low-cost alternative suitable for resource-poor smallholders to alleviate dry-season feed constraints. Within a research project carried out by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture and partners in Honduras, LBS was tested and its use encouraged during farmer training and field days. The present study highlights the most relevant technological and socio-economic potential and constraints of LBS. Surveys and experimental results revealed great vulnerability of plastic bags to pests, particularly rodents, accompanied by high spoilage losses. The main constraints to wider adoption include availability of i) suitable and affordable plastic bags, and ii) appropriate chopping equipment and storage facilities on smallholder farms. LBS proved to be useful and could play an important role in participatory research and extension activities, as a demonstration, experimentation and learning tool that can be used to get small-scale silage novices started with a low-risk technology.

Drinking water sources, availability, quality, access and utilization for goats in the Karak Governorate, Jordan.

Goat production is an important agricultural activity in Jordan. The country is one of the poorest countries in the world in terms of water scarcity. Provision of sufficient quantity of good quality drinking water is important for goats to maintain feed intake and production. This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal availability and quality of goats’ drinking water sources, accessibility, and utilization in different zones in the Karak Governorate in southern Jordan. Data collection methods comprised interviews with purposively selected farmers and quality assessment of water sources. The provision of drinking water was considered as one of the major constraints for goat production, particularly during the dry season (DS). Long travel distances to the water sources, waiting time at watering points, and high fuel and labor costs were the key reasons associated with the problem. All the values of water quality (WQ) parameters were within acceptable limits of the guidelines for livestock drinking WQ with exception of iron, which showed slightly elevated concentration in one borehole source in the DS. These findings show that water shortage is an important problem leading to consequences for goat keepers. To alleviate the water shortage constraint and in view of the depleted groundwater sources, alternative water sources at reasonable distance have to be tapped and monitored for water quality and more efficient use of rainwater harvesting systems in the study area is recommended.

Contribution of cattle of different breeds to household food security in southern Mali

Cattle husbandry plays an important role in the livelihoods of many households in southern Mali where the endemic N’Dama and Fulani Zebu breeds and their crosses are raised by farmers. This study examines food security, its determinants and the coping strategies used among 258 households in southern Mali, with particular emphasis on the contributions of cattle keeping and different breed groups, i.e. N’Dama, Zebu, crossbreds and mixed herds, to food security. The main aim was to investigate whether the replacement of the endemic N’Dama breed threatens or improves household food security. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the effects of household characteristics on food security using the household dietary diversity score (HDDS), food consumption score (FCS), and a modified household food insecurity access scale (mHFIAS) as indicators. Results revealed that cattle ownership and breed group were important determinants of all household food security indicators. Households keeping Zebu and mixed herds had the highest FCS. HDDS and FCS were positively correlated with crop diversity and household wealth, while negatively correlated with cotton cultivation. During the period of food shortage, households raising Zebu were better off and had significantly lower mHFIAS than those keeping N’Dama, crossbreds or mixed herds. In times of food shortage, selling livestock was the main coping strategy for households with a cattle herd, while households without cattle relied mostly on borrowing cash. In conclusion, the ongoing displacement of native N’Dama cattle by Zebu cattle and their crosses is contributing to improved household food security in Mali.