Multi-stakeholder platforms strengthening the selection and use of fodder options in Ethiopia: Some

lessons

Presentation by Ergano, K., A. Duncan, A. Adie, A. Tedla, G. Woldewahid, Z. Ayele, G. Berhanu and N.

Alemayehu (ILRI)

to the

Ethiopian Fodder Roundtable on Effective Delivery of Input Services to Livestock Development

Addis Ababa, 22 June 2010

Outline

Context Premises Approaches Institutional learning and innovation Critical issues for effective stakeholder

platforms Conclusion Recommendations

Context

Low productivity and subsistence-oriented livestock production are common features in Ethiopia Average Milk yields is the lowest in East Africa

Kenya: 500 litres/cow/yr Sudan: 480 litres/cow/yr Uganda: 350 litres/cow/yr Ethiopia: 270 litres/cow/yr

Feed scarcity is cited as primary constraint to livestock productivity

Feed Scarcity as major constraint to livestock production

Adoption of new technologies by smallholders is generally low

New technologies developed by researchers do not find their way into mainstream practice very easily

Picture of UMB Picture of maize lablabUrea straw treatment UMB

Images from FAO

Cereal/legume intercropping

Premises of FAP

Hypothesis: Fodder scarcity is not just about technologies but also about the collective capacity of a network of individuals and organizations FAP uses an innovation system framework for

engagement of multiple actors along livestock commodity value chain and for promotion of the process of innovation in fodder.

FAP recognizes innovation evolves through continuous interaction among stakeholders, utilization of feedback, analysis and incorporation of lessons learned between different processes.

Focus: generating innovation rather than mere research products or technologies

Approaches

Action research combining technical fodder interventions with establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms

Technical fodder interventions were used as an entry point

Actors directly or indirectly involved in livestock value chain were included in the platform

Setting up stakeholder platforms FAP followed a social learning process

with stakeholders learning from the experience of working together.

Setting up stakeholder platforms involved focused group discussion farmer field days formal and informal meetings and contacts

over the course of the project implementation

Focused Group Discussions

Training and distribution of forage planting materials

Planted forages in the fields

Farmers Field day at Mieso, October 2009

Institutional Learning and Innovation

Stakeholder platform has become a suitable venue to raise and discuss common issues of concern. Ada’a: shortage of crossbred cows, poor access to

artificial insemination and veterinary services and milk marketing.

Mieso and Alamata: introducing dual purpose sorghum and optimal utilization of native fodder trees, stovers and cactus

Institutional Learning…ct’d

Improved awareness of farmers about the management and utilization of forages

104 farmers planted improved forages in 2008

260 farmers planted improved forages in 2009

Out scaling to more PAs underwayOffice of agriculture taking over the role of

stakeholder platform facilitation Nascent dairy cooperative at Godino

supplying 100 liters of milk to market

16

FAP

IPMS Ministry (extension)

NARSFAP

IPMS Ministry (extension)

NARS

Fodder options

identified

Seedsourced

44 farmers plant on

own fields

X-bred cows sourced

Farmers purchase

seed

60 farmers plant on

own fields

Milk transport issues voiced

May 2008

Dec 2009

Dairy co-op formed

FAP

IPMS Ministry (extension)

NARS

Ethiopian Meat & Dairy

Tech Inst.

Eden FieldSeeds

Land o Lakes

FAP

IPMS Ministry (extension)

NARS

Ethiopian Meat & Dairy

Tech Inst.

Eden FieldSeeds

Land o Lakes

Milk transport negotiations

ongoing

FAP

IPMS Ministry (extension)

NARS

Ethiopian Meat & Dairy

Tech Inst.

Eden FieldSeeds

Land o Lakes

Ada’a Dairy Co-op

Crop Growplc

Godino DairyCo-op

FAP

IPMS Ministry (extension)

NARS

Ethiopian Meat & Dairy

Tech Inst.

Eden FieldSeeds

Land o Lakes

Ada’a Dairy Co-op

Crop Growplc

Godino DairyCo-op

Organisational innovation

Technical innovationInnovation processes in Ada’a Ethiopia

Institutional Learning …ctn’d

Farmers producing forage seeds jointly with private seed company (Eden Field seed Enterprise)

Commercial fodder production emerging as a business opportunity

The stakeholder platform is functioning in the three sites

Devolution of stakeholder platform facilitation to local partners underway

Forages, dairy cows,…

Lessons

Participatory selection of technologies that address farmers’ priority problems and demonstrating tangible economic benefits is key

Linking forage technologies with value chain issues in livestock enterprises is critical for successful adoption of forage technologies .

Functioning markets (such as for inputs, credit, and output) and basic development infrastructure (road, electricity, ICT, etc) are key to technology uptake and agricultural transformation

Selecting stakeholders and understanding their needs and positions is important.

Lessons…ctn’d

The process should be well planned with clarity about the aims, expected results, roles, responsibilities and time frame.

Stakeholder platforms should not be simply a ‘talk shop’ and they must support tangible outcomes.

Strong convening agency for stakeholder platforms is a must

Presence of a local facilitator with adequate training to facilitate the process is essential.

Regular formal and informal communication that creates transparency is critical to the process

Lessons…ctn’d

Willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and uncertainty must be recognized.

Trust, mutual respect and patience, especially in the face of frustration and slow progress, are key ingredients.

Monitoring and (self-) evaluation throughout the process by stakeholders will result in improved learning and better outcomes.

Conclusion

There is a promise in the use of stakeholder platforms to foster

innovation in livestock production, particularly where market access is

good and the range of actors is reasonably broad and diverse

Forage development is largely driven by urbanization and markets

rather than by availability of forage technologies.

The success of this emerging paradigm relies much on its acceptance,

premised on a reasonable understanding and a willingness to change.

Large scale institutional and policy change need an evidence base

through piloting the approach in different contexts, documenting and

sharing experiences, building on successes and stimulating policy

dialogue.

Recommendation

Need for enhancing learning throughout the broad innovation

system at all levels of organization (individual, organization and

system wide)

Individual level :

Need for strengthening competencies in systems thinking,

planning, use of information and communications technology,

knowledge management, teamwork, communication,

networking, facilitation, self-motivation, social awareness,

etc.

Recommendation…ctn’d

Organizational level:

Structures and processes need to provide the performance and

incentives systems that encourage inter-disciplinary teamwork,

partnerships with other stakeholders and effective knowledge

management that promotes changes.

System-wide level:

Capacity needs to be developed to allow different stakeholders

— individuals and organizations, from public and private sectors

—to come together on a ‘level playing field.’

Need for public research and development organizations to re-

skill, and the need for the reform of university curricula to

include innovation systems principles