Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities

Despite the profound livestock importance in eastern Africa, livestock productivity remains low attributable to a number of challenges. One of the major drawbacks is lack of quality feeds and forages. This results in poor animal performance and suboptimal use of resources. Intertwined with this lack...

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Autores principales: Mwendia, Solomon W., Ohmstedt, U., Karanja, S., Notenbaert, An Maria Omer, Peters, Michael, Jones, Christopher S.
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100313
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author Mwendia, Solomon W.
Ohmstedt, U.
Karanja, S.
Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
Peters, Michael
Jones, Christopher S.
author_browse Jones, Christopher S.
Karanja, S.
Mwendia, Solomon W.
Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
Ohmstedt, U.
Peters, Michael
author_facet Mwendia, Solomon W.
Ohmstedt, U.
Karanja, S.
Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
Peters, Michael
Jones, Christopher S.
author_sort Mwendia, Solomon W.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Despite the profound livestock importance in eastern Africa, livestock productivity remains low attributable to a number of challenges. One of the major drawbacks is lack of quality feeds and forages. This results in poor animal performance and suboptimal use of resources. Intertwined with this lack of quality forages is the dearth of forage planting materials - including seed and vegetative propagation – to offer producers improved forages adapted to different ecologies and agricultural context. To alter the landscape, developed forage technologies coupled with awareness creation is needed along the forage value chain to support commercially functioning forage seed systems. With the projected doubling of demand for animal products (meat and milk) in sub-Saharan Africa, the pressure will be exerted on livestock feed resources. This is likely to result in a knock-on demand for forage cultivation and hence forage seed demand. To be successful, the forage seed systems need to be supported by an enabling policy across the region, which include: functional procedures for certification and quality control, publicprivate partnerships for the production and dissemination of planting materials, and technical advice in the management of forages. Availability of proven forage technologies, coupled with awareness creation and facilitative movement of forage seeds across countries would boost forage seed system development in eastern Africa, for increased livestock productivity.
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spelling CGSpace1003132025-11-04T19:52:11Z Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities Mwendia, Solomon W. Ohmstedt, U. Karanja, S. Notenbaert, An Maria Omer Peters, Michael Jones, Christopher S. feeds forage animal feeding mixed farming livestock Despite the profound livestock importance in eastern Africa, livestock productivity remains low attributable to a number of challenges. One of the major drawbacks is lack of quality feeds and forages. This results in poor animal performance and suboptimal use of resources. Intertwined with this lack of quality forages is the dearth of forage planting materials - including seed and vegetative propagation – to offer producers improved forages adapted to different ecologies and agricultural context. To alter the landscape, developed forage technologies coupled with awareness creation is needed along the forage value chain to support commercially functioning forage seed systems. With the projected doubling of demand for animal products (meat and milk) in sub-Saharan Africa, the pressure will be exerted on livestock feed resources. This is likely to result in a knock-on demand for forage cultivation and hence forage seed demand. To be successful, the forage seed systems need to be supported by an enabling policy across the region, which include: functional procedures for certification and quality control, publicprivate partnerships for the production and dissemination of planting materials, and technical advice in the management of forages. Availability of proven forage technologies, coupled with awareness creation and facilitative movement of forage seeds across countries would boost forage seed system development in eastern Africa, for increased livestock productivity. 2018-07-27 2019-03-14T13:48:17Z 2019-03-14T13:48:17Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100313 en Open Access application/pdf application/pdf Mwendia, S.W., Ohmstedt, U., Karanja, S., Notenbaert, A., Peters, M. and Jones, C. 2018. Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities. Paper submitted at the 53rd Annual Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 22-27 July 2018.
spellingShingle feeds
forage
animal feeding
mixed farming
livestock
Mwendia, Solomon W.
Ohmstedt, U.
Karanja, S.
Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
Peters, Michael
Jones, Christopher S.
Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities
title Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities
title_full Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities
title_fullStr Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities
title_short Forage seed systems in eastern Africa: Challenges and opportunities
title_sort forage seed systems in eastern africa challenges and opportunities
topic feeds
forage
animal feeding
mixed farming
livestock
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100313
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