commercialisation of fodder & fodder seed production by louise mugweni
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LOUISE MUGWENICommercialisation of Fodder & Fodder Seed Production
African Livestock Conference & Exhibition (18-20 June 2014)
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
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
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
- 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
- Grasses: Rhodes grass Napier grass Foxtail grass Forage sorghum
- Legumes: Velvet beans Cowpea Sunn hemp (Red) Dolichos
- Maize silage
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
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
Constraints
- Low literacy levels- Farmer dependency syndrome - Unpredictable weather conditions affecting harvests
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
Other models of commercialisation
- Out grower models- In Ethiopia 583 farmers under the EDDP linked to a seed companyUS$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
THANK YOU!!
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