Introduction
As well as the documents available for viewing in the Virtual Library, the LPP has a number of documents that can be ordered in hardcopy.
The LPP is currently developing a series of toolboxes (or "baskets of options") to promote the outputs of individual research projects in a structured and searchable format. Individual research projects tend to focus upon a single intervention. Whilst these interventions are practical in their own right, the wider picture needs to be considered. Prototype toolboxes will be available over the next 3 months; comments on their ease of use would be gratefully received on lpp@nrint.co.uk.
Whilst the LPP nears the end of its current 11-year strategy, it continues to research issues that will continue to be important in shaping any new strategy. These issues are covered by new Scoping Studies; at present these include activities of livestock practices in urban environments and their relationship with human health and policy-change in five East African cities; also, the impact of gender relations in livestock keeping in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in East Africa and India. Draft reports will be made available and your comments are most welcome on lpp@nrint.co.uk.
Highlights from this year are:
User-Friendly Guidelines for Food Security
The project assists resource-poor urban livestock farmers in
Kampala as well as livestock and livestock project marketers
to improve their livelihoods and contribute to urban food
security through testing of new policy guidelines. If these prove to be successful in promoting increased production and safe marketing of crop and livestock commodities in Kampala, it is likley that the new policies will be introduced elsewhere in the country (and perhaps in adjourning countries).
Knowledge is Power for Livestock Keepers
Analysis of the livelihoods of urban poor livestock keepers in Kenya, India and Bolivia. The important contribution livestock keeping makes to the livelihoods of the resource poor is highlighted as are the major problems they face to survive let along improve their situation.
Waste Matters
Production and use of briquettes for fuel. Very poor sanitation is common in the urban slums of most East African cities. The situation is exacerbated by large numbers of large and small livestock kept by the poor. This project illustrates how dung can be utilised to provide the poor with fuel for heating and cooking as well as reduce the impact of sanitation.
There's Money in Honey: Beekeeping in Kenya
High potential for beekeeping in pastoralist societies in East Africa. Wild honey is a complimentary source of revenue for resource-poor pastoralists. Its 'organic' nature also provides potential for a high-value market.
Power to the People
DAP weeding improving quality of life in northern Uganda. A new animal drawn weeder has increased production, reduced drudgery and enabled more children to attend school.
Less is More Saves Lives
Economic spraying techniques saving costs. Pyrethroids can be employed more sparingly to kill tsetse flies and thereby make their use by resource-poor farmers more accessible.
Screening the Future: A New Tool to Improve the Life of Livestock Keepers
EXTRAPOLATE (EX-ante Tool for RAnking POLicy AlTErnatives)
framework analysing potential impacts of policy changes. A predictive model which can help policy makers and planners decide on the value of investing in various livestock development initiatives has been developed.
Exotic vs Local Dairy Cattle Satisfying the Demand for Milk in Africa
This project provides clear evidence that cross-bred or upgraded indigenous dairy cows give better returns to the resource-poor farmer (on a longer-term basis) than exotic dairy cows.
Acacia: Feeding Goats and Savings Lives in the Dry Season
Acacia pods provide a valuable protein resource for livestock during the challenging dry seasons. They also have a potential value as anthelmintics.
To view some highlights from completed research projects commissioned by DFID's LPP over the past 5 years click here.
In an effort to address the international community's
Millennium Development Goals, the LPP has aimed its research on husbandry/technical interventions for livestock species kept by resource-poor farmers - sheep, goats and poultry in particular. It has also commissioned research on changing local and national policies related to livestock keeping in urban slums and in pastoralist societies. Finally, research on how information is most effectively transmitted to resource-poor farmers via a variety of intermediary institutions has also been supported recently and some of these results are highlighted.
Young Indian boy with lamb in
Peruvian altiplano.
Credit: Jean Noel Perrin
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