Production of livestock and dairy products in Sub-Saharan Africa has not kept pace with growing demand. The potential exists to close this gap in a climate-friendly way through the introduction of improved forage varieties of the Brachiaria genus. We assess the potential economic impact of the development and release of such varieties in six East African countries using an economic surplus model. Results are presented across a range of potential scenarios involving different adoption rates and percentage increases in productivity. For all but the lowest levels of adoption and productivity increases, improved forages have the potential for positive return on investment. Using these results, we present formulae that help readers calculate the adoption rate or percentage increase in productivity necessary to achieve specific desired levels of net benefit. Overall, the model output suggests that investment in a forages research program related to both the qualities of the forage itself as well as programs to enhance dissemination and adoption of new materials would be low risk and with high likelihood for positive outcome, generating discounted net benefits on the order of potentially tens of millions of dollars.
Autores y editores
Gonzáles, Carlos
Schiek, Ben
Mwendia, Solomon
Prager, Steven
Mission
To reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human nutrition in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture.
People
CIAT’s staff includes about 200 scientists. Supported by a wide array of donors, the Center collaborates with hundreds of partners to conduct high-quality research and translate the results into development impact. A Board of Trustees provides oversight of CIAT’s research and financial management.
Values
Proveedor de datos
CGIAR (CGIAR)
CGIAR is the only worldwide partnership addressing agricultural research for development, whose work contributes to the global effort to tackle poverty, hunger and major nutrition imbalances, and environmental degradation.