By Marc Bunn | C.A.S.
Farmer Sustainability is a key outcome for the project. It is measured primarily through increased milk productivity per cow per day, which ultimately leads to increased milk production and productivity at the household level. To help farmers achieve maximum yield, we promote knowledge and skills in productivity enhancing technologies, climate smart agriculture and sustainable land management practices.
As a result, farmers adopted productivity enhancing technologies (e.g. feed technologies), and animal health and breeding practices (e.g. artificial insemination) to increase milk production at the household level.
Milk production per day is gradually increasing at the household level. In 2015, Tanzania and Uganda reported increases over the baseline; however, a prolonged drought through mid-2015 caused low milk production in Kenya (see graph at right).
Overall, these results show improved performance among dairy farmers who participate in PO/Hubs, and encourages other farmers to participate in the project.
Productivity Enhancing Technologies
The 2015 Phase II Impact Evaluation shows a positive trend in farmers adopting productivity enhancing technologies at farm level. This is a result of the structures and systems for service delivery we have put in place. The increase in adoption of these technologies was attributed to the increased value farmers attached to them and the model of delivery of the trainings which were participatory.
Animal Health
We teach farmers how to take preventive health measures to ensure the wellbeing of their animals, such as methods for disease prevention, disease treatment and milk hygiene.
In collaboration with local government extension officers and Phase II staff, lead farmers trained their peers in general animal management, and livestock disease prevention and treatment. Farmers received veterinary medicines for animal disease prevention and control, which largely focused on East Coast Fever vaccinations, and worm and tick control.
Additionally, the PO/Hubs developed animal health plans, formed PO/Hub extension committees and recruited extension coordinators, Community Facilitators (CFs) and Community Agro-vet Entrepreneurs (CAVEs). By project end, it will lead to an increase in production and productivity at the household level.
Agro-vets have monitored and reported on disease outbreaks to community and government networks in order to better control the spread and ensure rapid treatment. Below, the Adoption of Animal Health Practices chart indicates that farmers are embracing the techniques that will - over time - lead to increased yield on their farms.
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