Constraints in the Livestock Value Chains in Africa; The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation

Uganda| 18 June 2014

• Yona Baguma, PhD• Acting Deputy Director General Research Coordination, NARO

Plot 11-13,Lugard Avenue, P.O. Box 295, Entebbe, Ugandat: +256 (414) 320512, 320341/2 m: +256 (772) 930185, f: +256 (414) 321070Email: researchcoordination@naro.go.ug baguma1234@yahoo.com,

Outline of the Presentation

• Nine critical facts• Economic significance of livestock in Africa• Mega challenges to livestock in Africa• The livestock value chains in Africa• The critical weak-links in the livestock value chains in Africa• An account of advances in STIs and applications in livestock

VC in Africa• The critical gaps for Africa and smart interventions options• Perspectives on STIs in livestock in Africa • Critical commitments to improve livestock value chains in

Africa

Nine Critical Facts1. Severe hunger and poverty affects nearly 1 billion

people around the world and 2 billion people in the developing world are malnourished.

2. Three-quarters of the world’s poorest people get their food and income from farming small plots of land.

3. Shifting demography – increasing urbanization and incomes - means less subsistence farming is imminent.

4. Emerging middle class that is increasingly aware of health and lifestyle – means quality of food will be more important than just quantity.

5. About 150 million of the rural poor in SSA are dependent of livestock to sustain their livelihood.

6. Their livestock are frequently weak or sick, resulting in reduced production of eggs and milk to eat or sell. 

Nine Critical Facts7. Many of these farmers are women, who are key to

breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition in their families. 

8. Their success/failure determines whether they have enough to eat, are able to send their children to school, and can earn any money to save and lead healthy and productive lives.

9. Livestock are real stocks or securities at per with any stock traded on any market.

Economic Significance of Livestock in Africa

Poor body condition due to poor feeding and diseases

Women play a key role in livestock production

Mega Challenges to Livestock in Africa

• Diseases and pests burdena) Several (rinderpest, contagious bovine

pleuropneumonia, African swine fever, pasteurellosis, anthrax, blackleg, foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis) and severe with far reaching impacts on productivity

b) Poor support systems. A large proportion of the few trained vets are not engaged in the livestock sectors

• Livestock productions systems in Africaa) Ruminant production mostly in the hot arid landsb) Inadequate knowledge and expertise of producers

compounded with poor outreachc) Sub-optimal land tenure, fragmentationd) Unsustainable inheritance practices - usually land is

subdivided among children – need a shift to securitization of land. The current land held by a house hold should be fixed. And indivisible. Joint ownership of land through shares? A cultural shift.

Mega Challenges Cont’d • Inadequate quantity and quality of feed and water • Poor and inefficient transportation methods for live animals • Poorly developed livestock post-slaughter sensitive value

chainsa) Lack of processing and preservation techniquesb) Poor quality of finished products - packaging,

standards, etc.• Institutional constraints: Capacity

building/Policies/Regulations/Enforcement• Crosse cutting - social dynamics/cultural impacts on

livestock production• Climate change and climate variability• Slow advances in livestock genetic improvements coupled

with shortage of breeders with a vision• Untapped existing and novel markets and poor support

marketing infoa) Lack of business skillsb) Equitable transactions - When a famer brings her

perishable produce to a distant market, she is at the mercy of the buyer (whose cash is not perishable)

• Underinvestment - budget allocation by different countries, donors and CGIAR, NARS.

1. Animal health (disease control)

2. Breeding techniques

3. Animal housing, reduction of environmental load (minerals, energy, greenhouse gases, manure digestion) & milking winning techniques

4. Economy and farm management

5. Animal nutrition

6.Forage production (management of grassland and fodder crops)

Chain management (product quality & safety)

Processing industry

Dairy cooperatives, slaughter houses, egg processors

Supply industry

Feed, veterinary services & genetic materials

The Livestock Value Chain

7. Systems innovations

An Account of Advances in STIs and Applications in Livestock

VC in AfricaAdvances in animal nutrition

• Enabled utilisation of highly fibrous low-digestibility feeds which constitutes the major proportion of feeds to most ruminants under smallholder in Africa. a) balancing of nutrients for the growth of rumen microflora

thereby facilitating efficient fermentative digestion, b) treatment with alkali or by manipulating the balance of

organisms in the rumen c) genetic manipulation of rumen micro-organisms, currently

acknowledged as potentially the most powerful tool for enhancing the rate and extent of digestion of low quality feeds

• Recent data from human studies indicate strong influence interaction between food and gut microbiome. No doubt that such interaction exists in livestock – and have impact on productivity and quality of produce.

• Recent data has indicated presence of viruses in the rumen of sheep and goats (Agaba 2013, Personal Communication). This presents unlimited possibilities to manipulate rumen environment among other things.

An Account of Advances in STIs and Applications in Livestock

VC in AfricaAdvances in animal nutrition Cont’d

• Exploiting conventional plant breeding in reducing, and, in some cases, eliminating anti-nutritive factors, which severely impacts on non-ruminants

• Technologies for utilization of crop residues as animal feeds;

the use of fungi (like mushrooms) to pre digest fibrous materials before feeding, homemade mineral blocks to improve nutritive value, use of bentonite clays to reduce the risks of aflatoxins.

• Developed and disseminated forages tolerant to drought and major diseases. 22 clones of Napier grass tolerance to Napier stunt and smut disease have been identified and deployed in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi

• Rehabilitation of degraded grazing lands, through termite control, and innovative soil fertility management practices including shifting of knight kraals

An Account of Advances in STIs and Applications in Livestock

VC in AfricaAdvances in animal health

• Untangled molecular mechanisms of microbial virulence and discovery of novel vaccines and other therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases

• Improved management of pathogenic diseases enabled by knowledge on pathogenic genome sequences coupled untangled pathogen x host interactions

• Exploiting emerging DNA science of genomics - identification of new pathogens (new blue tongue like virus is Europe;), or identify new hosts for known pathogens (eg Ndumu virus in pigs using high through put genome sequencing platforms (Charles Masembe 2013), or deeper characterization of local strains variants that may be target for expanded vaccine development.

• Novel vaccine approaches facilitated by synthetic biology, where by entire genomes of organisms such as Mycoplasm mycoides is made artificially and manipulated (Criag Ventor, 2011), and used to develop vaccines to stubborn pathogens such as CBPP.

An Account of Advances in STIs and Applications in Livestock

VC in AfricaAdvances in animal health - Eradication of Rinderpest from Africa

Rinderpest a viral disease of ruminants - at one point killed 90% of all cattle in Africa (circa 1880 and continued to threaten herds with mortalities of 5 – 50% per outbreak, threatening trade and livelihoods.

The Eradication of rinderpest typifies the Science, Vaccine development and delivery, Disease surveillance, Policy, Inter governmental cooperation that is needed to tackle profound challenges in the Livestock value chains.

Lessons from the program can and should be applied to other diseases – e.g. Newcastle (chicken), PPR (sheep and goats), African Swine fever (pigs)

A scene from 1880 outbreak of Rinderpest

Underlying Key STI Messages• The key Science is

on immune responses of livestock, and epidemiology and pattern of the diseases.

• The key Technologies are  - diagnostics and thermal stable vaccines  (the latter allowed workers to deliver vaccines in remote hostile environment without worrying about ice.

• The Innovations will have to be in the processes, how different parties worked together and funding mechanisms.

An Account of Advances in STIs and Applications in Livestock

VC in AfricaMarketing Issues• What use is production if the market doesn't exist? What do you

do if the market is not there or is weak? From the livestock revolution and current demographic trends, its almost obvious that demand for livestock exists and is growing. But demand is different from a Market. The market is where the demand and supply are matched and consummated. If the market is weak, both the demand and supply remain unsatisfied.

• Science of food processing – new methods of delivery that take into account the nature of the market. What harvest technologies are needed to bring livestock products to market at affordable prices for the urban poor. Should we invest in mobile slaughter houses for small ruminants? No need to transport live animals - -loss of value in transportation, animal welfare issues, and the costs! What would be needed in such a slaughter house? What configuration?

• What would be the right time to harvest livestock - what age and what would be the impact on the value chain and market? Younger animals rather than culling?

An Account of Advances in STIs and Applications in Livestock

VC in AfricaMarketing Issues Cont’d• Can we use new means of tenderization of meat? Novel enzymes

other than papain? (anecdotal observation, animals infected with tryps (early stage, first parasitemia) have tender meat? Is this true? A possible explanation is that tryps produce a lot of papain like (e.g. congopain) enzymes into the plasma.

• What innovations are needed to deliver eggs, and milk to the markets (urban market, rural production) - what sanitation issues surround eggs- - salmonella? What new products - -yourghut, milky drinks to replace or compete with coca cola! Is there a market for eggshells as a source of calcium – for people?

• New recipes to expand the role of livestock in nutrition - - especially new or unconventional livestock?

• Information arena – especially for price discovery – need a trading platform akin to the stock exchange., connected markets. GIS systems to map all cattle markets and follow-throughs.

• Biotechnologies for rapid diagnosis in case of movement permits/cross-border trade. A simple system for sample processing e.g. (Beebe 2013) would rapidly reduce cost and be field deployable (at abattoirs/ mobile slaughter suits – add to surveillance)

The Critical Gaps for Africa and Smart Possible

InterventionsProductivity Gap:• More than 90% of all African farms are of low productivity potential.

The are efficient only when under optimal natural conditions with minimum inputs and are not suited to modern productions systems. This calls for systematic upgrade.

Efficiency Gap: • More than 90 percent of improved livestock breeds perform sub

optimally on farm. For example the Mpwapwa Red cattle developed as a synthetic dairy breed in Tanzania can produce up to 2000Kg of milk per lactation. But on farm efficiency is far less than 50%. This calls for improvement in management practices on farm.

Logistics Gap in supply chain:• All livestock products are perishable (meat, milk, eggs) resulting in

poor utilization of remotely produce. Innovations in the supply chain - refrigerated trucks extend shelf life of milk, meat - bring more into the market. Can reduce long distance transport of live animals, reduce cost of meat culminating into increased urban consumption.

Biotechnology Gap:• Supply of improved genetics requires use of artificial insemination (AI).

AI delivery still depends on a fickle cold chain that requires Liquid Nitrogen. Organizational innovations - - e.g. sharing of resources between medical and veterinary departments in the sprit of ONEHEALTH

The Critical Gaps for Africa and Smart Possible

InterventionsPolicy Gap:• Few African countries have functional or effective and modern

livestock policies. Comprehensive review of livestock policies (e.g. livestock breeding policies) that spur innovations in livestock sector.

Investment Gap: • By comparison to Crop agriculture, Livestock sector receives a small

fraction of investment in research, development or recurrent expenditure. 15% sustained increase in budgetary allocation for 10 years.

Science Gap:• Livestock production is still dominated by disease . Some such as

Rinderpest have been eradicated. Others such as Newcastle disease of chickens can be suppressed by vaccination. Research needed to develop – vaccines and delivery systems that enable rapid deployment. Research needed to combat infestations with worms and ectoparasites.

Information Gap:• A wealth of information is locked up in cabinets, heads what is needed

is innovations in digital systems that put actionable information in people hands

Integrated data and information systems that seamlessly connects all stake holders to deliver actionable information to each stakeholder has potential to revolutionize livestock value chain. Connected agents make informed decisions

Data analysis engines Analysts, agents etc

Informationand Data Gap

Make data work for farmers

70% of Africans are below age 30

We must be innovative to engage the

young in livestock value

chains.

Management, modern

production skills

Generational Gap in Livestock Sector

Expand up graduate education,

Innovate in research and capacity development

e.g. rapid programs

Research platforms – e.g. BecA

In the 10 years between 2002 and 2012, Uganda’s livestock population has almost doubled. (FAO 2014)

This is a direct consequence of lack of human capital needed to increase the productivity or efficiency per animal

Cattle Chickens Goats Pigs Sheep0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

40,000,0002002 2012

Africa has 2 billion chickens, and one billion cattle and goats. How many PhD level livestock Scientists?

Africa spend less than 1% of its GDP on research, and livestock research and development receives an even smaller fraction of the investment.

Scientists, Science, InnovationSkills Gap for Livestock Development

Innovate in the research and capacity development arena. Expand graduate programs at universities, pool resources to conduct research (e.g. Biosciences platforms such as BecA-ILRi hub shared facility); develop rapid training modules e.g. animal breeding academies

Future PerspectivesOn the production side• Health (vaccines: engineering, surveillance for

pathogen strains)• Feeds and feeding - new feeds (especially

monogastrics), more feeds, stress resistant forages.

• Product quality and assurance (meat, milk, eggs); age at slaughter (what would be the impact of a policy that limits the maximum age at slaughter, better meat, higher profits? increase profitability?

• Incentives for productive engagement of youth in livestock - what factors keep young out of livestock farming/sector. 

• Genetics - continue to improve the genetics of adapted productive genotypes - quick results in chickens, goats.  Longer term results in cattle, camels.

Future Perspectives Cont’d

On the market/policy/cross cutting• The future of the livestock market is not

clear.  We know the demand will grow but what kind of demand (poultry, pig? or ruminant?) - What interventions need to be put in place when and where to max the returns. 

• Development of information systems for SMART agriculture (agricultural informatics)

• Transport systems for livestock products• Integrating ICT in livestock production

Future Perspectives Cont’d

Human and environment health• What kind of health impact will livestock

have? How to maximise the benefits on human health?

• Scanning potential animals associated pathogens - to make livestock safer. Is all livestock safe?

• Diminish stocking density -or damaging impacts of greenhouse gas emission.

Critical Commitments Towards Improving Livestock Value Chains

in Africa• Analyze the livestock value chains using a variety of tools

and steps, identifying constraints & opportunities for innovation. Including research on intra Africa trade barriers

• Register households as business entities rather than as filial units to inculcate business sense – what tax incentives would help this cultural transition?

• Build critical engagement among and between chain actors and between chain actors and chain supporters

• Establish a pan-African Surveillance Livestock Network

• Elaborate and design an effective chain development strategy and develop the related action plan for transformation of the livestock sub-sector

• Develop of a comprehensive educational and training plan to support critical activities

Thank you!

Contributors: Drs. Jolly Kabiriizi, Emmanuel Zziwa

and Morris Agaba