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  • Jul 2023 - Jun 2028
  • Ethiopia, Kenya

Increasing productivity and incomes of smallholder dairy farmers through improved animal feed

Nourishing Prosperity Alliance: Forage for Animal Growth in East Africa

Livestock production plays a key role in economic growth and livelihoods in East Africa, and yet productivity remains generally low. Forage forms the basis of an animal’s diet, and animal nutrition is key to achieving productive potential. The primary barriers to the development of a forage market include: low demand for climate-smart forage; inadequate supply of affordable, high-quality forage; and weak enabling environments for mobilizing private investment in forage markets. To build a market for nutrient-dense, climate-adapted forage in Ethiopia and Kenya, Land O'Lakes Venture37 is leading an innovative private sector-led alliance model, the Nourishing Prosperity Alliance (NPA), funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This alliance convenes leading agricultural firms, research institutions, and non-profits across the animal nutrition market system to address these market bottlenecks by co-investing in early forage market development. Collaborating with implementing partners Corteva Agriscience, Forage Genetics International and the International Livestock Research Institute, this alliance aims to reach 120,000 smallholder producers in Kenya and 100,000 smallholder producers in Ethiopia.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE AMAZING RESULTS:
50%
increase in dairy productivity (liters of milk per cow per day)
5
new forage cultivars tested in-country
220,000
dairy farmers trained on animal nutrition

THREE FOCUS AREA

Strengthening Inclusive Forage Markets:

The project is developing more equitable forage markets in Ethiopia and Kenya by increasing the supply and demand of nutrient-dense forage for smallholder dairy producers, particularly women producers.

Increasing Productivity and Profitability:

As forage producers increase the quantity and quality of local forage they produce, this not only boosts their incomes but also those of the dairy producers that are using the forage to more efficiently feed their dairy cows.

Building Stronger Agricultural Markets:

 Reducing Emissions Intensity

By leveraging climate‐adapted forage varieties and promoting best practices livestock management, the project is enhancing resilience to climate shocks while reducing net emissions of livestock production.

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