Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-12 12:20:41
In an effort to address the challenges posed by global crises such as COVID-19, Climate Change shocks, and geopolitical conflicts, the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries, and Fisheries (MAAIF), has joined forces with the African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to establish a resilient African feed and fodder system. This partnership aims to mitigate the impact of crises on the African feed and fodder sector and enhance its sustainability and effectiveness.
At a stakeholders’ conference on the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFs) Project in Kampala, Dr. Annie Kigezo, a Senior Programs Officer at the African Union, highlighted the challenges faced by the sector due to crises and its unstructured nature in many African countries, including Uganda. The lack of coordination and collaboration among stakeholders has hindered the growth and development of the sector, leading to stagnation.
Through the RAFFs project, coordinated efforts and partnerships will be leveraged to make immediate and short-term investments, enhance evidence-based decision-making, identify innovative solutions to address feed shortages, and attract investments. The three-year project, initiated in January 2023, aims to assess the impact of crises on Africa’s feed and fodder sector, with a focus on selected countries including Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Feed and fodder shortages have resulted in significant losses of livestock, eroded livelihoods, and increased prices of essential livestock products, making them inaccessible to vulnerable populations. Dr. Theophilus Mwesige, Commissioner for animal production in the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the need for revising outdated laws, extending extension services, and ensuring the conservation of feeds to meet national and regional demands for animal feed and fodder.
Dr. Silver Turyahikayo, an expert in extension services, stressed the importance of processing feeds into hay and silage to sustain supply during dry seasons, as well as proper storage to prevent contamination. Ms. Agnes Kirabo from the Food Rights Alliance highlighted the significance of access to water in meeting the nutritional needs of cattle and called for gender equity in the feed and fodder sector.
In conclusion, the establishment of a resilient African feed and fodder system is crucial for ensuring food security, sustainable livelihoods, and the resilience of the livestock sector in the face of global crises. By fostering collaborations, investing in innovative solutions, and enhancing the capacity of stakeholders, the RAFFs project aims to address the challenges faced by the sector and pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient feed and fodder system in Africa.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
