November 20, 2017
AGRO-ECOLOGICAL APPROACHES AND OTHER INNOVATIONS OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEM THAT ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION: THE ROLE OF LIVESTOCK NGOS
BY
DR STEPHEN OLUWOLE ADEJORO, FOR LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA (LIFA)
[email protected] :: [email protected] :: www.soavet.8m.net :: www.lifango.org :: [email protected]
This contribution is a humble contribution from Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa, LIFA a livestock and capacity development NGO on how best livestock NGO can team up to create innovations that will enhance livestock food security, create viable employments to redundant youths and support to add value to the milk produced by herds women, who roamed their milk output daily in west Africa with much wastages and little cash returns
We shall equally share knowledge on how LIFA initiative intends to support other livestock investments, both small and large scale in minimizing the drastic effect of mycotoxin on capacity utilization, production, and health challenges of both ruminants, dairy and the Monogastric animals
Livestock Industry foundation founded by a group of Nigerians and expatriates is motivated by the love to put something back to the agricultural development of Africa for sustainability and grow the industry for better profitability
The NGO is founded by Dr. Stephen Adejoro the motivator, who initiates the idea to capitalize years of livestock research innovations and series of case studies knowledge, which this NGO can hold lien on, and make it available as charity for intending livestock farmers and the existing ones as well as research resources for universities undergraduates and post graduates intending to practice and give professional advice to practical livestock farmers in Africa
LIFA believes in the appropriateness of a syndicated multi-sectorial and professional approach in creating solutions to Agro-ecological risks or challenges affecting sustainable Livestock production of the global agricultural food system. Such synergy will produce innovations that will offer practical solutions to critical challenges facing man and his agricultural practices, of which climate change is the most pressing issue of concern world wide
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK AGRICULTURE
Climate change is today the greatest risk facing livestock productivity, sustainability and livelihood for rural and urban livestock farmers and potential youths intending to embrace livestock as a means of livelihood
The aftermath of climate change, characterized by persistent desertification, slow onslaught of draught and intermittent flood, are just a few of the climate change disasters of serious implications on livestock farming of the South Sahara Africa (SSA) ,however, more drastic climate change disasters like hurricanes ,tornados were common occurrences in other regions of the world even in this year as recorded in the State of Texas in United States of America, and in the Caribbean Islands where the devastating effects of this climate change aftermath on livestock projects is better imagined
The earlier identified impacts of climate change of desertification, draught and flood had posed serious challenges to Animal food industry of the West Africa and Central Africa of the SSA of which Nigeria and other West Africa countries had their share of these impacts
The above challenges informed the motive in creating LIFA as an NGO to collaborate with multistate holders in providing innovative solutions to these challenges and help alleviate them to sustain livestock food security in Africa, we believe even as we practice, that several innovations to minimize vulnerabilities and increase resilience’s to the aftermath of climate changes on livestock farming are mandatory to sustain livestock food security and promote balanced nutrition in Africa ,and most especially among the pro-poor communities of the third World Countries
We in LIFA, believe in knowledge sharing, and feel motivated, to share some of our innovative approaches that can be better developed by collaborative integrations of like minds and interested participants
THE CHALANGES FACING LIVESTOCK FARMERS
It is on record that over 30million pastoralist in Africa are in the pressing need for fodder and are in constant indiscriminate migration in search of pasture due to draught and desertification, 10 million of them are found to reside and roam Nigeria and the West Africa axis. The encroachment of the desert, and the adversities of climate change are pushing these livestock farmers further south for green pastures some of which are nothing but arable crops for human consumption and for other monogastric feed crops like cereals and legumes.
The effects of these on many communities of West Africa and in fact most countries of Africa are the causes of the recurrent clashes and conflicts between the pastoralists and the sedentary arable farmers of these regions, such clashes which has escalated to mini wars between communities and the herds men in Nigeria had led the the devastation of farming system and loses of many livestock holding both in large and small ruminants.
We do not underscore the effect of these situation of declining animal farming and loss of livelihood by many youths who now become restless and engaging themselves in retrogressive devises inappropriate of the goal for youths feeding the future a propaganda well preached by this forum
If these youths are to feed the future, and if persistent effect of climate change must be minimized LIFA believes in individual and multitasked holders collaboration in creating viable solutions, and it is in view of this that LIFA was created
THE NINE PILLAR INITIATIVES OF LIFA FOR LIVESTOCK FOOD SECURITY IMPROVEMENT
These initiatives are in themselves creating innovations that can be multilaterally adapted with institution and multilateral agencies to improve resiliencies to these challenges and mitigate effectively the nine point initiatives advocacy of the NGO.The initiatives in themselves, are advocacy awareness created by the challenges of climate change which today affect the livestock production sustainability and the livelihood of pastoralism and residential livestock farmers ,as well as the livelihood of youth destined to feed the future( Youths between 15-17 years of age)
· LIFANGO INITIATIVES : A RELEVANT AGROECOLOGICAL APPROACHES AND INNOVATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL FOOD SECURITY
We shall use this opportunity to share our knowledge in LIFA which perhaps could be relevant in this discourse for adaption
1. SOCIAL ENTERPRISES TO ADD VALUE TO HERDS WOMEN MILK FOR MORE REVENUE AND BETTER EMPOWERMENT
We at LIFA believe, that this approach can help to minimize to some extent the persistent conflicts between herds men and their community if they feel the impact of government in creating pockets of milk processing cubicles ,with appropriate HACCP ,that could process their milk to cheese or yoghurt ,which may also be channeled to the school feeding program me of some African countries, or enter directly into the National GDP through the emerging shopping Mores in many countries like in Nigeria
This approach which will reduce the roaming time for herds women with wastages of local cheese unsold, but can make them use their time to support the husbands in growing home use crops
The herds men on their parts could be supported in provision of safe water to animals and the home while efforts to allocate grazing reserves for ranching is been discussed, we believe that this will reinforce the confidence of the herds men in the local government of the community where they reside, and could in no small measure minimize further conflicts
LIFA in collaboration with Fulani herds and arable farmer’s conflict committee set up by the Governor of The State of Osun in Nigeria and in discussion with ADEPTA the Livestock chapters of the Agricultural Chambers of France held a b2b discussion on the way forward and technical support that France can give to this initiatives .LIFA under the leadership of Dr Stephen Adejoro facilitated the B2B meeting of the committee with ADEPTA in 2014 in Nigeria, though the state initiative is ongoing but the State of Osun is one of the least state that reported herdsmen and farmers clashes in Nigeria ,because of their awareness of the government program me to improve their livelihood
2. ADVOCACY AND MYCOTOXIN MITIGATION
Mycotoxin and most especially Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites secreted by mucus and fungi that are detrimental to the health of animals and Man; they increase in secretions as the climate change increases stress on the fungi. These metabolites are the core problem of productivity to monogastrics and Dairy cattle leading to serious food contaminations, adverse effect on livestock health and productivity.
Mycotoxin is the greatest consumer of the farmer’s profit especially in the livestock industry, compromising high level mortalities and persistent vaccination problems in poultry production of this region.
LIFA creates more awareness among farmers of this region and assist in documenting case studies on the appropriate mitigation in flocks and recommend best tools to make and accept or reject decision at farm gate on contaminated feed raw materials. Such capacity development organized by LIFA is linked here at http://blog.lifango.org/2017/10/28/lecture -on-mycotoxin-at-the-farners-hatchery -operators-forum-ogun-state/ http://lifango.org/public/resources http://www.blog.lifango.org
3. LIVESTOCK MIXED PORTFOLIO
Mixed Livestock Portfolio: An Empowerment Tool for Youths and Retirees with Gender Balance
This initiative is identified as very suitable in most rural and peri –urban communities of Africa to manage youths restlessness and shift them out of joblessness and poverty into prosperity. This innovation informed our effort to produce a comprehensive handbook with rich information so as to support the participants of this initiative.
Livestock Mixed Portfolio: A Cooperative Farming for Youth Empowerment.
The book is published by Lambert publishers of Germany and available on Amazon stores. The book is enriched with information that exposes youths to the wealth potential of cattle fattening and Layer egg production.
https://www.amazon.com/livestock-portfolio-cooperative-farming-empowerment/dp/3330058773
The concept of this livestock portfolio is to hold a stock of 2 -3 fatteners for 6 months with 100 layers as regular sources of inflow of revenue, while this cattle can be revolved twice in a 12 months laying span of the layers, and can stand as collaterals for more soft loans or sold off every 6 months to improve capital for the project expansion.The book is authored by Dr. Stephen Adejoro, who for many years practiced this portfolio on a 1.5 plot of fenced land and grew the stock intensively to a maximum capacuity of 25 heads of cattle which are regularly sold and replaced.
4. Advocacy to include LEGS (Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards) as a compulsory by disaster agencies to mitigate livestock disasters and improve livelihood of livestock farmers that sufferd disasters of their flocks.
We know as a matter of fact that livestock owners are least considered by disaster agents for prompt compensation even as their livelihood to continue sustainance of the business are not considered, we believe that syndicated collaboration to preach this advocacy to relevant government legislatures and agencies will go a long way to mitigate livestock disasters and improve livelihood of livestock farmers in Africa.
5. Offer Solutions based on case studies to causes of vaccination problems in poultry to prevent future occurrences .
At LIFA, We conduct field research studies to common vaccination failures such as ND, IBD, and Mareks diseases and domiciled our solution in LIFA as charity for practicing farmres
6. Education
We conduct Education for Livestock farmers on biosecurity protocols and health tips aimed at minimizing risks of epizootics
7. Research Analytics
We process and analyse livestock data and present them as structured format for skill improvement to farmers, researchers and students who register on our site to enjoy the informations on charity
8. We advocate for safe water for domestic Animal as a way to minimize waterborn diseases to animals and prevent zoonotic challenges to man.
9. We preach Advocacy for law in favour of Avian Influenza vaccination in Africa
Many countries in Africa run a NO Vaccination policy for Avian Influenza, and recommend only the stamping out and compensation policy, but unfortunately this compensatory policy failed to mitigate the disaster and the livelihood of many affected poultry farmers, because of Government dwindling revenue to back up the cost implications of this policy in Africa.
The last recorded AI outbreak in Nigeria recorded a destruction of over 3 million birds with no hope for compensation until the recent intervention of the President Mohammadu Buhari’s Government under the supervision of Professor Osibajo-the vice President
We believe that AI vaccination should be regulated and all premium birds like the Grant parent Stocks and the Parents Stock must be compulsorily vaccinate, while Government should allow ring vaccination of the downstream birds in locations where the out break occur
Our NGO believe that a country risk map developed from serological screening of migratory birds and natural carriers of AI virus for circulating antibiotics can be transformed into an histograph showing the risk map of the countries, this we believe will facilitate decision making on a holistic prevention and export trade of our poultry products in West Africa.
Conclusion and Recommendations
All these initiatives and innovations are the needful in a syndicated expert meetings on Agro ecological approaches and other innovations for sustainable livestock food system that will enhance Animal food security and we in the LIfango NGO will be interested if invited to share our knowledge as imput to the emerging solutions and innovations
We strongly recommend that issues of Animal food security, food safety, standard developments and creation of legislative environment must not be sidelined in a holistic farming system
We recommend the inclusions of Civil Societies and in particular livestock researched based NGO to participate and avail experts of their locked up native and academic knowledge capitalized for improved livestock production for Africa.
We recommend that NGO are most suitable and well positioned to collaborate in the management of controversies and dissolve barriers to the adoption of Agro ecological innovations by policy makers through consistent advocacy.
We recommend that standards must be advised to be readily set through multi stakeholders collaboration, and that impact assessment of such adopted innovations will be possible through the work of monitoring syndicates.
References
http:// lifango.org/about us
http:// blog .lifango.org on mycotoxin advocacy lecture
Dr. Stephen Adejoro is the founder of the LIFA initiatives and the current chairman of the organization.
Stephen Adejoro