Improving the Utilization of Sweetpotato

and other Roots and Tuber crop residues

for pig feeds in Uganda

Danilo Pezo, Gerald Kyalo & Peter Lule

CIP-Uganda/ ILRI-Uganda

11 February 2015

Implementation Team

Name Institution Role (s)

G.Kyalo, D.

Pezo, P. Lule

CIP

ILRI

Overall coordination

Emily Ouma

Ben Lukuyu

Michael Dione

ILRI Knowledge on feed resources, methods of silage preparation, economic feasibility

and social acceptability studies in pig value chains

Apolo K.

Kasharu

L.Mayega

CHAIN UG

Ltd

DVO

Masaka

Daily records of feeding & animal responses, sampling of feeds, on-farm validation

of silage preparation and SP-based diets

Strengthen capacity of stakeholders to uptake silage making as a business

Pilot dissemination models for promotion and scaling up

Grace Babirye

Kizito

G. Nadiope

VEDCO

ISU-UG

Daily records of feeding & animal responses, sampling of feeds, on-farm validation

of silage preparation and SP-based diets

Strengthen capacity of stakeholders to uptake silage making as a business

Pilot dissemination models for promotion and scaling up

Jolly Kabirizi NARO-

NaLIRRI

Conduct on-station silage trials determining levels of additives for cost effective

silage production

Determine and document economic optimum levels of energy/protein

supplementation using locally available feed resources

David

Mutetikka

Makerere

University

Determine and document economic optimum levels of energy/protein

supplementation using locally available feed resources

Conduct on-station silage trials determining levels of additives for cost effective

silage production

Student supervision

Julius Mwine UMU Identify and asses dual purpose SP varieties and their cutting management

Student supervision

Christopher

Mulindwa

PPM Linking farmers to markets

Scaling up research findings on the use of SP-based diets

Development problem/ opportunity

• The smallholder pig sector is rapidly growing in Uganda

with 1.1 million households rearing ca. 3.5 million pigs.

Women and children are mostly responsible for pig

management.

• Pork consumption is increasing, and Uganda ranks 1st in

East Africa in terms of per capita consumption of pork.

• Pigs play an important role in the livelihoods of poor

families generating income to cover emergency needs and

paying school fees. Pigs are also the source of manure for

cash crops.

• High fertility and short generation intervals make pig rearing

potentially profitable, and a quick option for income

generation.

Development problem/ opportunity

• Smallholder pig farmers in Uganda have identified

feeding as one of the most important constraints in

production, due to seasonality, poor quality of feeds and

lack of knowledge on supplementation strategies.

• Feeding costs represent 62-70% of the variable costs in

smallholder farms in peri-urban and rural settings.

• Among all feeds, commercial concentrates are the most

expensive. Therefore, smallholder farmers make

extensive use of crop residues, grasses, weeds, kitchen

leftovers and agricultural by-products, but need advise

for better use.

• Sweet-potato vines the most commonly used fodder

source in 35 out of 36 villages studied in Central

Uganda.

Development problem/ opportunity

• We propose to improve the

utilization of sweetpotato

residues (non-marketable

roots, vines and peels) to

help overcoming feeding

constraints in pig production

systems, and improving the

livelihoods of smallholder pig

farmers, as well as creating

job opportunities for other

actors.

Development problem/ opportunity

• Sweetpotato (SP) is a widely grown cop

and a good source of energy (roots)

and protein (vines), but highly

perishable.

• Feed conservation strategies will help to

reduce wastage of SP residues, and

extent their use in periods of feed

scarcity.

• Simple silage making technologies and

strategic supplementation are easy and

affordable options for conservation of

SP roots and vines; but, new options

need to be assessed and shared with

farmers.

Approach

• The business case will create a model for proper

organization of SP value chain actors for production,

conservation, and marketing of SP-based feeds in form of

silage, purposely for pig feeds (but could be for otrhe

livestock as well).

• Strengthen the existing linkages between pig farmers and SP

traders in the peri-urban and urban markets to increase

access to SP residues from markets and other RTB farms for

silage making.

• Building capacity of women, men and youth for

entrepreneurship and effective business operations of silage

making and pig enterprise development on a regular basis,

coupled with business mentorship programs.

Approach

• The business model will be implemented through the

existing multi-stakeholders SP and pig platforms.

• The business plan will be executed through pilot and

monitoring activities. Two piloting channels are proposed: i)

collective action with farmers groups, and ii) individual

innovation champion farmers.

• Silage making will allow women and youth to reduce time

sourcing feeds and feeding animals. It will also help cutting

efforts devoted to cooking SP roots and other RTB, drying

and pounding SP residues, and reducing the use of fuel

(e.g., firewood) for cooking.

The business model

Research Questions

1. Is the integration of SP and pig enterprises

technically feasible; economically viable;

socially acceptable and environmentally

sustainable in Uganda?

2. What are the best SP silage preparation and

feeding options for smallholder pig

production in Uganda?

3. What are the best dual-purpose SP varieties

for production in the targeted biophysical

and socio-economic niches for integrated

SP -pig production systems in Uganda?

4. Which are the most effective delivery

mechanisms for the production and

marketing of SP silage by small and

medium scale pig producers, especially

women, in Uganda?

Technical Feasibility

SP is a crop adapted to the agro-ecological conditions

where the project will operate in Uganda.

Pig production is a common livelihood activity in

smallholder farms, and the demand for pork is increasing.

SP roots are rich in energy & vines rich in protein, and

both are highly digestible, hence constitute a good basal

diet for pigs.

Successful SP silage production and utilization in pig

feeding has been tested successfully in SE Asia, China &

Kenya, and widely adopted in the first two. Recent efforts

in Masaka has been carried out.

Effective integration of SP and pig systems is a farming

option in countries with similar biophysical and

socioeconomic settings than in Uganda.

Economic Feasibility

Farmers in Masaka and Kamuli districts, already use

SPR and SPV, and other RTBs for feeding pigs while

supplementing with commercial feeds.

SPS is a cost effective feed conservation strategy,

contributing to a reduction of 17.3% in the costs of pig

production, and addresses seasonality in feed

availability.

Silage making prevents wastage of SP residues,

therefore more animals can be fed with the same SP

garden area.

Silage making represents a value addition option for SP

farmers and new job opportunities for other VC actors.

Feasibility

Social feasibility

• Feeding SP vines to pigs is a traditional practice.

Harvesting of the vines for pig consumption is commonly

done by women and children and is an acceptable

practice among many communities.

• Farmers (both female and male) preferred the use of

SPV to any other fodder types, recognizing several

valuable attributes: high palatability, boost growth and

reduce fat in pork.

• Although livestock fodder markets are not common,

huge potential exists for SPS marketing, especially in

those seasons when feed scarcity occurs.

Research Outputs

1. At least two methods for SP silage preparation validated

and piloted (300 W,100 M, and 100 Y)

2. Farmers and other stakeholders learn on the best use

of SP as feeds for pigs (250,000 HH)

3. Strengthened capacity for uptake silage making as

business for W, T and M.

4. Dual purpose SP varieties & their management

identified & promoted (SP & pig farmers, SP multipliers)

5. Economic viability & social acceptability of SP-pig

systems validated and documented

6. At least 2 dissemination models piloted and tested, and

best options ready for scaling-up and –out.

Conclusion

More pork by and for poor

households, and new business

opportunities by integrating

wisely sweetpotato and pig

feeding technologies