1. Role of support services in enhancing competitiveness of smallholder livestock farmers Mc Loyd Banda Department of Agricultural Research Services, Malawi Conference: “Policies for Competitive Smallholder Livestock Production” 4 th to 6 th March, 2015, Gaborone, Botswana.

2. Outline Introduction Supporting services and their roles Lead farmer concept Biogas technology Manure management Conclusion

3. Introduction Characteristics of smallholder farming: Maize based mixed farming system Small livestock numbers per household Low production levels

4. Intro’’ continue Smallholder livestock farmers in southern Africa are challenged by a number of factors including: lack of access to appropriate information on new technologies, complexity or high labour demanding technologies, lack of organized markets that often results in an unscrupulous market system.

5. Support services to improve competitiveness of smallholder livestock farmers: 1.Lead farmer concept 2.Biogas technology and manure management

6. Lead farmer concept The lead farmer concept is being promoted in Malawi as a method to enhance adoption of technologies. It also shows potential to achieve organized market channels in farmer associations. Roles of lead farmers Village extension agents Promotion of agric. Technologies Role models in modern farming approaches

7. Selection criteria of lead farmer The characteristics of a Lead Farmer: Willing to share the information with others; Able to lead others; Early adopter of technology; A communicator with good facilitation skills; Should be honest, trustworthy and humble; Be development conscious; Be tolerant; Should originate from the village and socially accepted by the community; Be able to sacrifice for others; Be cooperative and approachable

8. Lead farmer capacity building Some of the useful trainings to capacitate livestock lead farmer 1.Livestock management practices including housing, feeding, breeding, diseases and pest control. 2.Capacity building to paravets 3.Fodder establishment and management 4.Feed preservation/ storage and formulation 5.Marketing skills include the business plans, market search etc.

9. Crop-livestock integrated project Renewable energy Livestock enterprise Crop enterprise Lead farmer concept

10. Collective marketing thru lead farmer concept

11. Collective marketing through lead farmers CLIP lead farmers & follower farmers in an EPA have formed an association To facilitate collective marketing at areal level – bargaining power Organized market search (e.g. use of community radio) 5 lead farmers per EPA

12. Biogas and manure management in enhancing competitiveness of livestock farmers

13. Similar to Bokashi manure Mixture of animal fecal matter, fertilizer tree leaves, ash, virgin soil and add water then cover with plastic - wait for 21 days to mature Windrow type Popularized manure management activities in Malawi

14. Liquid manure (dung and water) – apply after 21 days Pelleted chicken droppings manure Pit manure making Mud coated manure (common)

15. Challenges in composting Exposure of animal manure to sunlight Poor quality of compost Low quantity of compost made at household (application rate: 5 - 20t/ha) Exposure of animal manure to sunlight Poor quality of compost Low quantity of compost made at household (application rate: 5 - 20t/ha)

16. Biogas technology for a smallholder farmer and manure management

17. Some requirements and production estimates from digesters Gas plant type (model) Number of animals (cattle) Water & dung per day (1:1) Gas produced per day (cu m) Sun dried fertilizer produced per day (kg) Number of people served by gas (cooking and lighting) 2 cubic meter47024-84-5 4 cubic meter816048-169-11 10 cubic meter204001820-4020-30

18. Advantage of composting by biogas technology Production of clean domestic energy Less emission of SLCPs into atmosphere Less drudgery in composting Continuous production of compost manure by digesters Cattle dung Biogas Crop production Gas utilized

19. Conclusion Emphasis on livestock lead farmers for livestock production and marketing Value addition to animal fecal matter through biogas technology Animal manure management knowledge in crop –livestock integration farming

20. Thank you for listening 10 th European Development Fund The African Component of the ACP Research Programme for Sustainable Development