Marshal Papworth alumnus works to improve sustainability of livestock production in Eastern Africa

Thank you to Paul Opio, from Nairobi, Kenya, who has updated us with his latest research and development on sustainable livestock production in Eastern Africa through his work with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which will not only make livestock production more sustainable but also provide new jobs for young people in the communities.

Using the latest technology to facilitate the project, Paul, who completed a Marshal Papworth funded Masters in Animal Production and Nutrition at Writtle College, UK in 2011, said:

“The current work is focused on generating animal feed inventory and balance at national level in order for countries to know where and what quantities of feed resources they have. This includes the current link between food and feed industries that they can tap on in times of drought, floods and conflict to help communities living in areas of deficit feed.”

Paul continued: “The target now is institutional strengthening through capacity building  but the tools we are using to map out feed resources such as the Predictive Livestock Early Warning System (PLEWS) and Pictorial Evaluation Tool (PET) provide direct early warning information to communities. In, arid and Semi-Arid areas of Kenya like Turkana, Pokot, Marsabit and Mandera the National Drought Management Authorities and communities use PLEWS prediction to warn and prepare for respond to drought.

“We are reaching to communities through a number of other projects but the current work is truly regional in nature and many countries are adopting including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia and Sudan. The next step with this work will focus on building capacities and uptake of small scale feed technologies (mechanization) to create jobs for youths especially in communities where there are abundance of feed resources.”

If you would like to read the full research and projects, the FAO document can be accessed here.