The main target group of these technologies are the small-scaledairy farmers. These technologies are at the uptake pathway stage and have beenvalidated by smallholder farmers in Uganda using an on-farm approach. Fodderfrom 0.5 ha of Brachiaria mulato/Centrosema pubecens mixture increasedfodder availability by 46 % (137.5 + 19.4 days). A farmer group approach hasbeen shown to be suitable for scaling up of the technologies in the near future.

These technologies provide a simple and practical option fordiversifying feed production in intensive livestock systems amidst increasingland pressure.  The technologies are currentlybeing utilized by many smallholder dairy farmers in Burundi, Kenya, Tanzaniaand Uganda. In order for these technologies to survive, multiply and spreadfrom within and beyond the host/bulking farms, a farmer group approach shouldbe considered i.e. the technology should be disseminated through demonstrationsand farmer groups. There are already existing groups of women and men for bothcrop and livestock producers. These groups will ensure that: (i) membersbenefit from training offered by extension agents; (ii) provide group labour(do work collectively) for establishment of fodder banks, silage making etc;(iii) participate in exchange visits and learn from each other; and (iv) act aspeer farmers with other farmers that they interact with.

These model farmers will ensure spread, multiplication anddemonstration of technology, knowledge and skills to all sub-groups under theirjurisdiction. Farmers should be linked to credit institutions (Microfinance Institutions)to get credit to purchase the required inputs such as pesticides, veterinarydrugs and materials for constructing water tanks and irrigation systems. Inaddition, expansion/multiplication and distribution of planting materials andwater harvesting, management of knowledge and skills should be undertaken.

These are low cost technologies, requiring just planting materialsand utilizing land set aside for fodder production. The technologies benefitall genders, and appeal more to women farmers, who constitute a majority ofsmall scale dairy farmers. The forage interventions are able to increase fodderavailability by 76%, milk yields by 78.7% and cash incomes by 52.4%. Because ofincreases in milk yields, farmers are able to make profits from these technologies.Farmers producing Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato for fodder and seed/plantingmaterials in Uganda made a net profit of USD 1,360 per acre/year.

Establishing 0.5ha of Brachiaria hybrid cv. mulato and Clitoria ternatea mixture on the samefarm containing Napier grass and Centrosemapubescens mixture gives more fodder that is able to sustain a crossbreddairy cow (470+27kg live weight) throughout the year. The currentlyrecommended acreage of 0.5 ha of a mixture of Napier grass and forage legumescannot sustain a dairy cow and its calf for a full year. Additionalestablishment of 0.5 ha of a mixture of Brachiaria and forage legumes isrecommended during the dry season when production of Napier grass monocrop isdisadvantaged due to drought and poor agronomic practices.

These technologies are gender-neutraland intended to benefit all members of the community, including vulnerable andmarginalized groups. However, the technologies are more attractive to women whoare currently a majority of the small-scale dairy farmers since they addressesthe challenges of women farmers.

Jolly Kabirizi;

Lead Scientist, National Livestock Resources Research Institute(NaLIRRI);

P.O. Box 96;

Tororo, Uganda.

Tel: +256 45448360

Mob: +256-777912716

Email: jmkabirizi@gmail.com

Donald Njarui;

Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)-Katumani;

P.O. Box 340 – 90100;

Machakos, Kenya.

Tel: +254-44-20495; +254-20-4183720

Fax: +254-44-21122

Mob: +254-726345712

Email: donaldnjarui@yahoo.com

Justus K. Itabari;

Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO)-Katumani;

P.O. Box 340 – 90100;

Machakos, Kenya.

Mob: +254-723389521

Email: itabarijustus@yahoo.co.uk

Kaganda, S;

Livestock Research Centre (LRC), Mabuki;

P.O. Box 352;

Mwanza, Tanzania.

Tel: +255-754469354; +255-784936202

Mob: +255-282501079

Email: skaganda2001@yahoo.co.uk

Annunciate Nakiganda;

National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI);

P. O. Box 96;

Tororo, Uganda.

Mob: +256 (0) 782901687

Email: aknakiganda@yahoo.co.uk; annuciatenakiganda@yahoo.com

William.N Nanyennya;

National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI);

P. O. Box 96;

Tororo, Uganda.

Mob: +256-772441471

Email: will04nan@yahoo.com

Nizigama Jean;

Scientist, Mahwa Research Station;

P. O. Box 149;

Bujumbura, Burundi.

Tel: +257-79958038; +257-22-227602

Email: nizijean1@yahoo.fr; aloysndos@yahoo.fr

Mob: +257-79625120

Kabirizi, J.M, Njarui, D.M.G., Itabari, J.K., Kaganda, S.,Nakiganda, A., Nanyennya, W.N. and Nizigama, J. 2012. Enhancing smallholderdairy production through participatory evaluation of forages, soil fertilityand water harvesting innovations in ECA region. (In press).

Kabirizi, J.M. 2006. Effect of integrating forage legumes insmallholder dairy production systems on feed availability and animal performance.PhD Thesis. Makerere University.

Kabirizi, J.M., Njarui D.M.G., Nakiganda, A., Kaganda, S.,Nizigama, J. and Itabari, J.K. 2010. Crop-livestock integration for sustainablemanagement of natural resources and building livestock resilience. ECA regionbaseline survey report.