A process for designing site specific feed plans

EADD Feed Plans Training Workshop, Eldoret, Kenya, 27-28 June 2012

Ben Lukuyu, Emmanuel Kinuthia and Alan Duncan [EADD- ILRI] 2012

A quote for the workshop

‘Successful feed interventions are all about context’

outline

• Stage 1: EADD concept of DFBA Feed Plans and the tools used

• Stage 2: Training on feed plans tools (FEAST questionnaire and excel template

• Stage 3: Implementation of feed plans through dairy hubs to solve problems• Engaging DFBAs to scaling up interventions• Building capacity of ‘best bet’ technologies• Introducing commercialization of interventions for

sustainability

Objectives of the workshop

• Train participant on how to develop feed plans

• Train participants on the tools used • the FEAST tool • The TechFit tool

What FEAST and TechFit tools can do?

• FEAST -Quickly diagnoses key livestock feeding issues using PRA and helps collect very light data

• Helps to structure thinking and allows dialogue with stakeholders on what the key feeding issues are and how they fit into the broader context

• Techfit tool will help get more specific and more analytical information on which feed technologies might work in a particular context.

Feed plans – development process

Diagnosis stage

• Objectives• Conduct a rapid appraisals using the FEAST tool

to identify potential constraints and opportunities• Identify potential ‘best fit’ technology packages

to solve feed problems• To screen and prioritise possible feed

interventions using the ‘TechFit’ tool• Engage the dairy farmer business associations

(DFBAs) and sensitize them about the importance of a feed plan

Developing feed plans (interventions) with stakeholders (1)

• Catalyze formation of a broad coalition of actors (stakeholder platform) to share and discuss PRA findings with emphasis on solving identified problem. • What are the potential solutions?• What needs to be done to solve the

problems ( A list of activities)• What resources are needed for

each activity and who provides• Who does it? Who is in charge (at

all levels, EADD/cluster, hub level) and by when?

• How will progress be monitored? • What will be monitored and by

whom

An example of a constraint/opportunity analysis matrix

Constraint Potential solutions

Activities to solve the problem

Resources needed

Who provides

Who does the task

When What to monitor

Constraint 1

Constraint 2

Constraint 3

Possible feed interventions could be from multiple angles (technical, institutional, social and economic) in various contents

Developing feed plans (interventions) with stakeholders (2)

• Each hub should produce an activity chart summarizing all activity against calendar months

• Feed plan for the entire year or next 12 months).

Activity Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Act Nov DecActivity 1                        

Activity 2                        

Activity 3                        

Implementation of feed plans through dairy hubs (1)

• Screen, prioritise possible feed interventions using the TechFit tool • Takes into account a broad view of contextual factors:

productivity, economic, social, labour, gender• Select 2-3 potential ‘best bets’

• Engage DFBAs to scaling up interventions• How best do we engage DFBAs to own/ internalize

development and use of feed plans?• Include feed plans in the strategic plans and annual

operation plan and budget for DFBAs• Build the capacity of the dairy hub’s management and

extension providers to develop, revise and implement the feed plans

Implementation of feed plans through dairy hubs (2)

• Building capacity of ‘best bet’ technologies• Conduct farmer trainings to promote selected

interventions and to stimulate demand amongst farmers. Useful to inbuilt in activity calendars.

• Assemble relevant technical information and back up through making linkages with other actors

Implementation of feed plans through dairy hubs (2)

• Introducing commercialization of interventions for sustainability• Where applicable develop business models for selected

interventions• Promote potential local commercial feed producers• Engage business development providers (BDS) to provide

technical assistance to the dairy hub/farmers and feed producers• Facilitate signing forward feed supply contracts with dairy

hubs.• Facilitate farmer linkages to check-off services for farm

inputs.

Summary of the process

•STEP THREE•Catalyze a platform for feed agenda

•Share and discuss PRA finding identify constraints and potential feed options and how to solve them

•STEP FOUR•Implementation of feed plans with DFBAs

•STEP TWO

•Hub level PRAs using FEAST tool

•Generate hub reports

•STEP ONE•Interest DFBA management to develop feed plans

Engage DFBAs Rapid appraisal by use of FEAST

Stakeholder workshops Develop hub feed

gaps together with DFBAs

Monitoring the uptake of these strategies through DFBAs & Stakeholder platforms

Step 3: Building capacity and commercialization of interventions for

sustainability

Improve livelihood of smallholder farmers by improving milk productivity in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda through better producing, better utilization and better access to high quality feeds

Reduction in seasonal feed fluctuation

‘Best fit’ technologies

identified and analyzed

Increase in number of

farmers trained on

feeds

1.Through partners conduct farmer trainings to promote selected interventions and to stimulate demand amongst farmers.

2.Build the capacity of the dairy hub’s management and extension providers to develop, revise and implement the feed plans.

3.Develop a commercially sustainable model for each potential intervention where applicable

4.Engage business development providers (BDS) to provide technical assistance to the dairy hub and feed producers

5.Facilitate signing forward feed supply contracts with dairy hubs.

6.Facilitate farmer linkages to check-off services for farm inputs.

Constraints and opportunities

identified

Improved feed quantity and quality

Increased and sustained milk yields/improved reproduction

Step 1: Diagnosis

1.Engage the dairy farmer business associations (DFBAs) and sensitize them about the importance of a feed plan

2.Conduct a rapid appraisal using the FEAST tool to identify potential constraints and opportunities

3.Identify potential ‘best fit’ technology packages using the ‘TechFit tool’

4.Conduct a cost benefit analysis of the top 2-4 ‘best fits’ , select the 2 most viable ones for piloting/up scaling.

Proc

ess

Objectives

Goal

Outp

uts

Goal

Increase in number of

farmer growing legumes

Increase in farmers growing

improved fodder & pasture

Improved access to BDS services

Step 2: Implementation and scaling up interventions through dairy hubs

1.Develop a short (1 year) feed plan involving selected interventions for each dairy hub .

2.Develop a commercially sustainable model for each intervention

3.Develop a feed plan training manual and training curriculum

4.Together with DFBAs identify and recruit strategic stakeholders , including potential feed producers in each dairy catchment to help implement the feed plan

5.Hold workshops of selected stakeholders in each dairy hub to promote models for selected interventions, solicit stakeholder support and jointly develop implementation workplans .

Increase in number of dairy hub feed BDS

Increase in amount and

types of feeds sold

by the dairy hub

Increase in number of baled grass producers

A dairy hub feed plan

FEAST

The problem

Feed assessment

• Conventionally focuses on:• The feeds• Their nutritive value• Ways of improving nutritive value

• FEAST broadens assessment:• Is livestock an important livelihood strategy? • How important are feed problems relative to other problems?• What about labour, input availability, credit, seasonality,

markets for products etc.?

How does FEAST work?• Overview of farming system and

livestock feed aspect• Milk marketing, veterinary services• Major problems for livestock

production

1. PRA Exercise

• Quantitative information on crop-livestock production, feed availability, feeding rations

• Qualitative information - perception on feed quality

2. Individual farmer survey

• Enter data in FEAST template• Based on result develop ideas for

intervention

3. Data analysis and developing interventions

PRA – at this point view the questionnaire

• General description of farming system• range of farm sizes,• farm labour availability• annual rainfall pattern• irrigation availability• types of animals raised by households.

• General description of livestock production• the types of animals raised (% of households raising these

animals and average herd/flock sizes)• the purpose of raising these animals (e.g. draught, income,

fattening, calf production)• the general animal husbandry (including; management,

veterinary services and reproduction). • Ease of access to credit• How available are necessary inputs – plastic, urea, concentrates

etc• Problem identification and potential solutions

Quantitative questionnaire

• Animals – livestock inventory• Crops - yields and areas to derive crop residue availability• Cultivated forages – yields and areas• Collected fodder: proportion of diet• Purchased feed • Grazing: proportion of diet• Contributors to household income• Production.

• Milk production • Sale of livestock

• Seasonality. • Feed supply: overall seasonal availability• What is fed in different months?

Excel Template

• Explain data entry into a excel template

• In the following slides you will see how it looks like and samples outputs

Sample output

32%

22%

20%

14%

6%

6%

Contribution of livelihood activities to household income (as a percentage)

Agriculture

Livestock

Remmitance

Labour

Others

Business

More sample output

Crop residues5%

Cultivated fodder

25%

Grazing30%

Naturally occurring and

collected33%

Purchased7%

DM content of total diet

Final FEAST outputs

• Feast report with some ideas for key problems and solutions

• Better links and understanding between farmers, research and development staff

Group work (at least 3 hours)

• Divide the group in groups as appropriate (depending on number of computers available

• Train on the FEAST excel template – let the groups enter actual data from questionnaires collected from the field

• Review outputs from groups in a plenary

Reflection

• Discuss follow up actions of engaging DFBA to collect data from their hubs.

Let us make the implementation of Feed plans in Uganda a reality

• Colleagues…..I appeal to you