Doing feed assessments with FEAST: Why, what, when and where

On 22 May 2015, the updated FEAST data application and e-Learning course were launched in Addis Ababa. Continue reading →

Fostering convergence and technology adoption: Scaling MilkIT dairy feed innovations in India

During the December 2014 MilkIT project, we caught up with B.K. Bhatt who works in the Integrated Livelihood Support Project (ILSP) financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He reflects on some of the reasons why he worked with the project and what it has contributed to his work. Continue reading →

Solution-oriented action research: Scaling MilkIT dairy feed innovations in India

During the December 2014 MilkIT project, we caught up with Ahmed Iqbal, chief development officer (CDO) for Almora district in the Uttarakhand state government. He reflects on some of the reasons why he worked with the project and what it has contributed to his work. Continue reading →

Leveraging instructional design and learning theories to improve livestock feed productivity

At this week’s international conference on Integrated Systems Research for Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture, Iddo Dror presented a poster on ways that ILRI is leveraging instructional design and learning theories to improve productivity in smallholder systems. The poster is about a learning package to support use of the FEAST tool. Continue reading →

FEAST – how it helped a feed innovation project with engagement, intervention design and impact assessment

FEAST was originally developed as a decision-support tool to help in identifying appropriate feed interventions in smallholder systems. During the MilkIT Project FEAST was used in both India and Tanzania but in different ways and with different benefits. We reflected on the use of FEAST during our final project meeting in Lushoto Tanzania and produced a rough poster outlining the various ways in which FEAST was used and what the benefits of use were. Continue reading →

Enhancing dairy feed interventions in India and Tanzania – three messages from the MilkIT project

In December 2014, the MilkIT project (Enhancing dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania through feed innovation and value chain development approaches) held final workshops in Lushoto and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. On 11 December, team members met in an ‘Outreach Meeting’ with various stakeholders and partners. The aim of the meeting was to continue synthesizing the key insights of the project through interactions with a wider community. Continue reading →

Growing food and feed with less environmental impact: A dual-crop impact narrative

ILRI and its partners are developing highly productive dual-purpose crops and presenting a strong case for further, stronger collaboration between national and international crop and livestock institutions. Continue reading →

MilkIT: Enhancing dairy-based livelihoods in India through feed innovation

The MilkIT (enhancing dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania through feed innovation) project comes to an end in December 2014. The project team in India recently produced a video documenting some of the project’s experiences, zooming in on innovation platforms, womens’ empowerment, and enhanced forage availability. Continue reading →

Innovation platforms as a route to dairy development in India

The International Livestock Research Institute has adopted an innovation platform approach as a route to dairy development in the hills of Uttarakhand. Continue reading →

Innovation Platforms as a tool for smallholder dairy development: Experiences from Uttarakhand in India

At last week’s Tropentag 2014 conference Thanammal Ravichandran, Nils Teufel and Alan Duncan gave a presentation on the use of innovation platforms in the ‘milkIT’ project in India. The study evaluates the process of IP functioning and conflict management through a qualitative “innovation storyline”. The IP meetings were regularly documented with details of issues discussed, actions planned and follow up activities. Continue reading →