RIU Tanzania lobbies for coordinated approach to poultry breeding
17 December 2010
RIU Tanzania has challenged livestock researchers and research institutions to come up with a solution to current problems in characterisation of indigenous chicken breeds and absence of a trusted source of parent stock.
RIU has identified that when hatcheries need to replace their parent stock or buy new parent stock there is no official source of 'clean' and genetically 'strong' indigenous chicken parents. Moreover, if such a source was to be established it is not certain which breed of indigenous chicken should be kept as parents due to the diversity and lack of data on the existing gene pool of indigenous chickens in the country.
Although, different studies have been conducted to characterise breeds, no breed has yet been selected for multiplication.
RIU is lobbying to pull together available funds for the characterisation work. They have written to the Ministry of Agriculture to inform them about these challenges and request them to combine available resources in order to coordinate and conduct one comprehensive study that can be used to inform the indigenous poultry sub-sector and safeguard its future.
Vera Mugittu, coordinator RIU Tanzania, said:
This approached emerged after the ZARDEF committee for the Southern Highlands zone called for proposals in September 2010 and allocated TZS 30 million (US$ 20,000) for poultry characterization and a similar sum for livestock feeds research.
At the same time, another call for agricultural research proposals was made by COSTECH - the Commission for Science and Technology - now responsible for the implementation of activities under the government's green revolution framework known as Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First). And another RIU partner submitted a proposal on poultry characterization asking for about TZS 300 million (US$ 200,000).
RIU Tanzania's management believes that the characterization of indigenous chicken is better approached from the national rather than zonal perspective. The RIU position was that that TZS 30 million is possibly not sufficient for a definitive characterization study. So, combining the existing funds allocated to the eight agricultural zones with the COSTECH funds would enable more comprehensive poultry studies on the major problems identified by stakeholders working with RIU, including feed and breeding stock issues.
RIU is also attempting to mobilise available funds and grants for livestock research under the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the National Livestock Research Institute (NLRI) and other institutions to be combined and respond to needs flagged by poultry stakeholders. RIU is awaiting announcements of the poultry research activity budget for 2011/12.
NLRI has recently proposed a model that can be used as a starting point for establishing a system for producing indigenous chicken parent stock. The model (see diagram) proposes that grandparent and parent stocks be raised in research stations as pilot and model farms, and to upscale the technologies later on to private medium- and large-scale farmers who it is envisaged will eventually run these enterprises.
One farmer has already approached RIU and agreed to invest in establishing a farm that can be used by researchers as a grandparent and breeder farm.
17 December 2010
RIU Tanzania has challenged livestock researchers and research institutions to come up with a solution to current problems in characterisation of indigenous chicken breeds and absence of a trusted source of parent stock.
RIU has identified that when hatcheries need to replace their parent stock or buy new parent stock there is no official source of 'clean' and genetically 'strong' indigenous chicken parents. Moreover, if such a source was to be established it is not certain which breed of indigenous chicken should be kept as parents due to the diversity and lack of data on the existing gene pool of indigenous chickens in the country.
Although, different studies have been conducted to characterise breeds, no breed has yet been selected for multiplication.
RIU is lobbying to pull together available funds for the characterisation work. They have written to the Ministry of Agriculture to inform them about these challenges and request them to combine available resources in order to coordinate and conduct one comprehensive study that can be used to inform the indigenous poultry sub-sector and safeguard its future.
Vera Mugittu, coordinator RIU Tanzania, said:
"There is a real tension in the way that agricultural research is planned and funded in Tanzania. Whilst support and empowerment of regional priorities with real resources is an attractive political approach, there are times when it becomes wasteful and works against the farmers' interests.RIU has observed a number of Ministry of Agriculture programmes. One, the Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Fund (ZARDEF), is a component of the Agriculture Sector Development Programme that provides a common system for funding research themes or projects that will address identified zonal agricultural priority problems. RIU has suggested having a combined proposal for all eight agricultural zones to ensure that sufficient funds are available.
Because RIU has no vested interests, we are in a position to lobby for a more unified approach to research and to try to broker arrangements which deliver greater value for money.
At this time, in particular, when the international donor community has to make difficult decisions about their aid budgets, we have to be seen to be maximising the impact of the resources we commit to development."
This approached emerged after the ZARDEF committee for the Southern Highlands zone called for proposals in September 2010 and allocated TZS 30 million (US$ 20,000) for poultry characterization and a similar sum for livestock feeds research.
At the same time, another call for agricultural research proposals was made by COSTECH - the Commission for Science and Technology - now responsible for the implementation of activities under the government's green revolution framework known as Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First). And another RIU partner submitted a proposal on poultry characterization asking for about TZS 300 million (US$ 200,000).
RIU Tanzania's management believes that the characterization of indigenous chicken is better approached from the national rather than zonal perspective. The RIU position was that that TZS 30 million is possibly not sufficient for a definitive characterization study. So, combining the existing funds allocated to the eight agricultural zones with the COSTECH funds would enable more comprehensive poultry studies on the major problems identified by stakeholders working with RIU, including feed and breeding stock issues.
RIU is also attempting to mobilise available funds and grants for livestock research under the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the National Livestock Research Institute (NLRI) and other institutions to be combined and respond to needs flagged by poultry stakeholders. RIU is awaiting announcements of the poultry research activity budget for 2011/12.
NLRI has recently proposed a model that can be used as a starting point for establishing a system for producing indigenous chicken parent stock. The model (see diagram) proposes that grandparent and parent stocks be raised in research stations as pilot and model farms, and to upscale the technologies later on to private medium- and large-scale farmers who it is envisaged will eventually run these enterprises.
One farmer has already approached RIU and agreed to invest in establishing a farm that can be used by researchers as a grandparent and breeder farm.
| Commercialisation of local chicken enterprises. May 2010 (9:07) |  |
