New plan to revolutionise feed inventories in Africa

Accurate feed and fodder inventories are essential for a resilient livestock sector, allowing countries to identify investment opportunities and address climate-related challenges more effectively.

To support this goal, the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the International Livestock Research Institute are hosting a five-day capacity-building workshop in Nairobi from October 28 to November 1, this year.

The two organisations are joining forces to standardise methodologies for conducting Feed and Fodder Inventories and creating National Feed Balances.

Digital tools

This workshop targets technical experts from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Somalia, focusing on the use of digital tools over traditional manual methods to improve data accuracy and scalability in feed inventory assessments.

The collaboration leverages the expertise of ILRI, AU-IBAR, and participating countries, with workshop findings to guide the creation of National Feed Inventories and the development of Early Warning Systems.

Insights from the workshop will inform livestock policies at the national level, bolstering sustainable livestock practices and resilience against climate impacts.

The outcomes will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, industry publications, policy forums, and the media.