Despite the crucial role played by dairy development plays in strengthening the economy and job creation in rural Bihar, milk productivity has hardly increased in decades. Recent increases in milk production have been driven by increases in the number of animals. A study at the International Livestock Research Institute, published in January 2016, sets out the challenges facing the sector and suggests a way forward, the establishment of a multi-stakeholder consultation forum/platform to share and discuss the nature of interventions each organization is undertaking in the dairy livestock sector. Continue reading
Category Archives: Regions
Livestock and livelihoods: CSISA project boosts incomes and productivity in South Asia
In collaboration with other CSISA partners, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has been helping crop-livestock farmers to boost income and milk production by increasing the availability of fodder, promoting efficient use of cereal residues and improving the quality of supplementary feeds in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Continue reading
ILRI research to shape pig breeding policy in Nagaland, India
Last month (15 December 2015), ILRI researchers and agriculture sector partners in Nagaland discussed the process of ‘framing a pig breeding policy’ in the state at a workshop that reviewed current evidence from ongoing pig farming research. The meeting also generated recommendations for a pig breeding policy in the state, which among other goals, aims to develop pig breeds/cross-breeds that are adaptable, productive and appropriate for the smallholder pig farmers in Nagaland. Continue reading
ILRI and Southeast Asia partners make plans for improved native pig farming in Vietnam and the Philippines
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners in Southeast Asia have started a series of market research and value chain improvement efforts aimed at improving smallholder pig farming in the Philippines and Vietnam. Continue reading
High-level Asia policy dialogue discusses investment in agricultural research for development
A recently held high-level policy dialogue aimed at promoting investment in agricultural research technologies and innovations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Continue reading
Bringing home the bacon, a Vietnamese native pig-farming success story
Originally posted on VietPigs:
After buying six sows from ethnic minority villages in Vietnam in 2009, Nguyen Van Minh began raising native/indigenous pigs. Six years on, Nguyen, affectionately known as Mr Duc, had increased that number to 130 sows, and was supplying around 500 slaughter pigs annually to the market. His annual earnings had grown…
ILRI joins first CGIAR and MARD’s coordination meeting on enhancing agricultural research partnerships
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and CGIAR recently evaluated on-going research by CGIAR centres in the country and developed plans for further collaboration in agricultural research for development. Continue reading
Getting to the root of the problem: Feed and fodder interventions for Bihar’s dairy sector planned
Insufficient supply of feed and fodder for animals remains a problem for dairy farmers in India, particularly in the state of Bihar. Feed and fodder scarcity limits animal productivity of products such as meat and milk, resulting in reduced incomes especially for smallholder dairy farmers. Continue reading
Embracing opportunity: Vietnam’s livestock sector and the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Livestock sector experts and stakeholders in Vietnam recently met to discuss the opportunities and challenges offered by the newly unveiled Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade agreements and their likely effects on the country’s livestock industry. Continue reading
Promoting mineral mixture feed for dairy production: ILRI interview on Indian television program in Bihar
‘Dairy farmers can feed it to animals every day’, says agricultural economist Dhiraj Singh, referring to a mineral mixture feed that is increasing milk production from dairy cows in Bihar, India.
Continue reading