ILRI INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Kiggundu Rose [1] and Mengistu Solomon [2]. Positive Deviance in Using Livestock Feed Technologies: Addressing an Old Problem in New Ways. [1] International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) [2]Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)

Why did some forage development initiatives get it right, while others achieved much less success?

Does this research deal with livestock goods and bads and if so how?

Who are the “next users” of the research and how will they use the findings?

This research provides an understanding of factors that can lead to enhanced use of improved feed technologies, which can contribute to improved livelihoods through livestock productivity. It also looks at role of forages as contributors to agro-ecosystem management.

Research & development agencies and, policy makers involved in forage and feed resources and, livestock development and, natural resources management.

Lessons and generic principles •  Pockets of success mostly found in intensifying crop-livestock systems •  Pockets of success tend to be highly concentrated in a few locations around urban centres (markets), research centres and, urban-based district offices of agriculture. •  Feed technologies have the greatest chance/likelihood of being used productively either because of geographical suitability, ecological imperatives, sense of urgency (pressure of intensification), potential for tapping into livestock value chains or good history of risk-taking and associated local capability in the area

What helped •  Improved incentive regimes for local actors •  Functional partnerships with early adopters/modern farmers •  Reduction of less productive breeds •  Introduction of improved and strategic ways of managing feed •  Pro-active efforts to provide access to improved breeds •  New forms of smallholder organization to facilitate various forms of joint action •  Enabling policy environment

What is this study about? This study tried to unravel the processes, factors and conditions underlying the observed pockets of success in forage technology adoption and use focusing on four cases in Ethiopia, with a focus on drawing out lessons and principles on how improved feed resources can be promoted in ways that are relevant, usable and beneficial to poor.

Possibilities (windows) for successful promotion and use of improved feed

Best-bet promotion and governance model Location (example/case study)

Feed as enhancer of productivity in potential or emerging livestock value chains: dairy; fattening

Initial public sector support to develop value chains; enable smallholder participation & extraction of value. Eventual take over by private sector

Dejen, North Western Ethiopia & Tiyo, Eastern Ethiopia

Feed seed chains for income support and diversification

Private sector led. Public sector intervention to develop seed markets & private capacity. Public-private investment to support smallholder participation

Tiyo, Eastern Ethiopia

Feed as part of solution for reducing risk & vulnerability to adverse events (drought, food and feed scarcity)

Feed as public good in ‘commons’ Public sector led but declining support as some functions of feed become private sector led Private feed seed chains for income support

Ambasel, Northern Ethiopia

Feed as part of integrated solution for agro-ecosystem management

Feed as public good in ‘commons’ Non-perverse incentives for feed as public-private good on private landholdings

Gununo, Southern Ethiopia

What is positive deviance? Positive deviance refers to cases that diverge from the general trend and the presence of certain individuals or groups whose behaviours and strategies enable them to find better solutions to forage problems than their peers, while having access to the same resources and facing similar or worse challenges

Windows for productive use of improved feed in intensifying crop-livestock systems