Smallholder Pig Value Chains Development in Uganda

Danilo Pezo, Emily Ouma, Michel Dione, and Brian Kawuma

Meeting of the CRP 3.7 SPAC and PPMC

Kampala, 7th December 2014

Background

• Pig production in Uganda on the rise

– Pig population risen from 0.19 to 3.2 m in the last 30 years

– Uganda has the highest per capita pork consumption in East Africa

• 1.1 m households produce pigs as backyard activity

• Gender disaggregation of task – women and children manage pigs, while men market them

• Contributes to livelihoods and income to meet emergency needs and school fees

Challenges for the SPVCD in Uganda

• The pig sector is underdeveloped, and dominated by informality and lack of organization in the different nodes.

• Processing is limited, and value addition almost non-existent.

• Pigs are not a priority for the government (not considered in the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy & Investment Plan, and the National Development Plan).

• Research on pig production, health, food safety & marketing is very limited.

• Few development agencies have piggery in the agenda (NAADS, VEDCO, BRAC, few local governments).

• Smallholder pig farmers struggle to get fair prices, and all VC actors have limited access to financial and technical assistance services.

• Inappropriate handling of waste, contributes to pollution and associated social conflicts, and gives rise to health risks & diseases.

Partnerships

• Public sector: MAAIF, NAADS, local governments of Kamuli, Masaka, Mukono, Hoima & Lira, KCCA.

• Research/education institutions: NARO / NaLIRRI, Makerere University (COVAB, CAES, CNS), SLU, Iowa State Univ.

• NGOs: VEDCO, SNV, Veterinaries Without Borders.

• Private sector: BRAC, PPM, Agro-Empowerment Center, UPO, Union of Pig Coops of Greater Masaka, Wambizzi Coop., Greenfields Uganda Ltd., OrgaFarms (promotes IMO system).

Projects contributing to the Uganda SPVCD

• Catalysing emerging smallholder pig VCs (ILRI / IFAD-EU)

• Safe Food Fair Food (ILRI - GIZ / A4HN CRP)

• Epidemiology of African Swine Fever (ILRI-BeCA-CSIRO / AusAID)

• Assessing the impact of ASF in smallholder pig systems and feasibility for potential interventions (SLU–ILRI / SIDA)

• More pork by and for the poor: Catalyzing emerging pig VCs for food security & poverty reduction (ILRI / IrishAid)

• mPig: Mobile SMS learning for pigs – An innovative information sharing platform for smallholder pig value chain actors (ILRI /GIZ)

• Ebola & other emerging infectious diseases at the wildlife-pig interface (ILRI / A4HN CRP)

Goal

To improve livelihoods, incomes and assets of smallholder pig producers -particularly women- and other VC actors, in a sustainable manner, through increased productivity, reduced risk, and improved market access in pig value chains

Project Approach

• A Value Chain Approach to transform subsistence level pig keeping into a more competitive business offering superior and safe pork to consumers. It will help to reduce poverty and enhance food security for poor households, while preserving community natural resources.

Target

• Smallholder pig production and marketing systems.

• Specific activities to address gender disparities in access to resources, markets and technologies, and their effects on livestock production.

• Some opportunities and constraints are site specific.

• Best-bet technological and institutional options designed to respond to those conditions.

Objectives

• To develop and pilot test a set of integrated packages for

improving productivity in a sustainable manner in smallholder

farms, as well as organisational marketing mechanisms and

waste management practices to strengthen the pig value chain

through enhanced pork safety and better access to inputs,

services and output markets.

• To identify market opportunities for pork in Uganda, and the

multiple factors preventing smallholder pig producers from

exploiting those opportunities.

• •

Objectives

• To develop, test and evaluate best-bet options to increase

utilisation of edible pig parts and increase consumer

awareness about the benefits of consumption of animal

source foods.

• To document, communicate and promote appropriate

evidence-based models for the development of sustainable

pro-poor pig value chains in Uganda

Activities carried out

• Stakeholder Consultation

• Situational Analysis of the Pig Sector in Uganda

• GIS Study on Targeting Smallholder Pig Value Chains in Uganda

• Participatory Outcome Mapping and Site Selection

• Value Chain Assessment (VCA)

• Benchmarking surveys

Activities carried out

• Animal health and food safety assessments in pig VCs

• Analyses of successes and failures on the implementation of innovations in pig VCs

• Preliminary identification of potential best-bet interventions (BBIs) – stakeholder workshops and EXTRAPOLATE

• Characterisation of local feed resources

• Evaluation of diets based on the use of local feed resources for growing pigs

• Prediction of live weight using body measurements in pigs

Activities carried out

• Role of forages in pig production systems

• Development of training modules

• Assessment of knowledge, practices and perception of pig VC actors

and stakeholders and recommendations for ASF biosecurity protocols

• Study on the demand, availability, actual access to and control over

adequate food (including animal source foods) by household members

• Waste management at the pig farm and slaughter nodes

• Feasibility assessments of pig business hubs and a model pig abattoir

• Establishment of Multi-stakeholders Pig Platforms

Few examples of activities carried out for the

transformation of smallholder pig value chains in Uganda

Animal HealthRapid value chain assessment (FGDs with farmers and keys

informant interviews)- African swine fever the most important production disease

(endemic, high mortality, and frequent outbreaks, especially during the dry season).

- Worms and ectoparasites (lice, mange, jiggers, flies and ticks) are also endemic and lead to economic losses (lower LWG, and reduced market prices).

- Low efficacy of drugs, especially dewormers and antibiotics. Farmers attribute it to poor quality (“fake”) drugs.

- Poor biosecurity measures along the value chain a major constraint for controlling ASF outbreaks.

- Lack of knowledge on best management practices and biosecurity measures pointed out by farmers.

- Poor regulation and enforcement on disease control and drug quality.

Cross sectional surveys and laboratory investigations fordiseases and zoonoses (in collaboration with SFFF)

- Samples collected: blood, serum, fecal and ecto-parasites from 1300 animals, including 90 village boars in three districts (Masaka, Mukono and Kamuli)

- 1300 farms surveyed to analyze risk factors associated with main diseases and zoonoses affecting pigs in Uganda.

Worms prevalence using microscopy (%) Serology (%)

Strongylusspp.

Ascarisspp.

Metastrongylusspp.

Strongyloidesransoni

Trichuris suisCoccidiaoocysts

Brucella ASF Cysticercosis

55 6 8 4 4 39 <1 <10 - 55

(average: 13)

Microscopy SerologyTryps Swine erysipelas Toxoplasma Trichinella

<1%(apparently high prevalence, but data not available yet)

detected(data not available yet)

detected (data not available yet)

On-going analysis with FLI (Germany) and ILRI/BeCA Classical swine fever

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)

Circovirus type 2 (PCV2)

Foot and mouth disease (FMD)

Aujetzkty disease (SHV1)

Metagenomics

FeedingRapid Value Chain assessment and Benchmarking Surveys

• Feeding 60-75% of total variable costs.• Crop residues, forages and kitchen leftovers

represent 70-75% of the diet along the year. Grasses and weeds replace crop residues during crop growing periods and dry season.

• Sweet potato vines the most preferred fodder for pigs, regardless of VC domain; the 2nd most preferred cassava leaves in rural, while yam leaves in peri-urban VCs.

• Feed collection and feeding mainly done by women and children, however men and hired labor participate more in peri-urban farms.

• Main constraints as identified by farmers: fodder shortages in the dry season, high cost of commercial feeds, price fluctuations of feed ingredients and poor quality of purchased feeds.

Seasonal Availability and Quality of Pigs Feeds(part of a Univ. of Guelph PhD Dissertation)

• 211 samples representing 52 locally available feeds, collected in Masaka and Mukono. – Fruits (leaves, fruits, peels)– Vegetable and root crops residues (fodder, non-

marketable tubers)– Forages (grasses, legumes, weeds, foliage of

fodder trees)– Agricultural by-products (i.e., brewers’ waste,

maize bran, cottonseed meal)– Concentrates (commercial, home-mixed)– Others (i.e. kitchen leftovers, chicken manure)

Findings• Limited availability of feeds in the dry season.• Farmers need to purchase feeds for strategic

supplementation of on-farm produced feeds. • High variability in quality of feeds (i.e., 37-58%

CP in silverfish meal; 10-16% CP in concentrates).

LWG (g day-1) in local and crossbred pigs fed on concentrates, SP silage- and fresh local feeds-based diets 1

(part of a Univ. of Guelph PhD Dissertation)

a Pigs weighing > ±20 kg at beginning of the trial

1 Results have been shared with female and male farmers in Masaka, to assessacceptability of these technology innovations.

Diet Crossbred pigs a Local pigs a

Commercial concentrate 660 ± 105 530 ± 93

Local feeds formulated 310 ± 92 210 ± 72

Sweet potato silage 470 ± 92 390 ± 64

Forages in Smallholder Pig Systems (component led by a CIAT scientist)

• Forages (grasses, legumes, “weeds”) are important components in smallholder pig feeding systems, but have not been studied by the few researchers working on pigs in Uganda.

• Forage interventions will play a more prominent role in farms with higher land availability (mostly in rural settings), but always in multiple cropping with food crops.

• 120 pig farmers have started planting improved forage legumes (Cannavalia brasiliensis, Clitoriaternatea, Lablab purpureus) and the Brachiaria“Mulato” hybrid.

Training Modules for Facilitators of Learning Processes in Pig Value Chains

(in collaboration with ILRI Cap Dev)

• Training modules cover key constraints identified in the VCA: Animal health & management, Biosecurity, Village boars’ management, Strategic use of local feed resources, Business planning and financial management, and Improved access to markets.

• Local experts developed the modules with support of ILRI team (technical, instructional design, etc.).

• Training of trainers on how to deliver innovative interventions to service providers, farmers and other actors.

• Testing of training modules with facilitators and partners.

• Development of learning materials and radio programs for farmers & other actors (potential collaboration with INSEAD).

Role of pork and animal source food in household diets

• Consumer surveys adapted from

A4NH toolkit covering 600

households in 4 districts (Sept-

Nov 2014).

– demand for pork and animal source foods

– intra-household dietary survey for children, men and women

– nutritional related interventions at household and community levels

Poor waste management at the pig slaughter node

• Slaughter at the urban pig slaughterhouse (Wambizzi Coop.)

– Bulk waste (blood, pig feces) not disposed systematically, could lead to public health risks, direct exposure of workers to waste.

– Blood and GIT contents disposed into public water bodies -environmental and public health problems.

– Poor pork handling practices.

Intervention on waste management (A4NH/L&F)

• Site: Wambizzi Coop. Slaughterhouse (Kampala).

• Intervention: A biogas digester system for sustainable use of abattoir waste, to reduce risk of pork contamination and meet energy needs.

• Research question: How will a biogas system reduce cross transmission of pathogens and public health risks?

• Impact on pork safety monitored using biological indicators –burden of a defined set of pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Ascaris). With additional funding from SFFF project – A4NH, in partnership with Makerere University/COVAB).

Value chain performance issues

• Production node: expensive & poor quality veterinary products, poor quality feeds and services, lack of lucrative markets – low prices.

• Input suppliers (commercial feeds): adulterated/sub-standard raw materials, lack of knowledge on feed formulation.

• Pig traders: high transactions costs (transactions ), bad debts, lack of capital, etc.

• Intervention: Business models for improving efficiency and effectiveness of value chain linkages - improve access to inputs and services - to improve productivity and income.

• Pig business hub models.

Feasibility assessment of pig business hubs and a model pig abattoir

• Identified constructs for piloting pig business hub models with

emphasis on improving access to inputs and services include:

(i) hubs revolving around check-offs for inputs and services;

Pig Collection Centre

(pig inspection)

Kabonera-Kyanamukaaka pig farmer cooperative

BDS

Check-off arrangement (MoU)

Pig traders /group (local within Masaka or outside)

Live pigs

Pig traders

Pig farmersDirect

Coop funds

(ii) Hubs revolving around slaughterhouse in Masaka Municipality (centralised slaughtering)

Feasibility assessment of pig business hubs and a model pig abattoir

Slaughter slab in Municipality

Pig Union – greater MasakaPig union own slaughterhouse/or lease to traders

BDS- Transport

Live pigs/pork

Pig traders /group (local within Masaka or

outside)

Households

Pork

Pig collection Centres-coops

Live pigs

Check-off arrangement

Processorse.g., Fresh

Cuts

Cooperatives

Live pigs Pork

MSP Processes in Uganda

• An initiative resulting from the Impact Pathway Workshop (June 2013).

• ILRI partnered with SNV to catalyze the establishment of the MSPs.

• Three regional (Greater Masaka, Central, Eastern) and one national already operating since August 2014. Two more (Western and Northern region) will start in 2015.

Pig producers

Pig & pork tradersConsumers

Input suppliers

Transporters

Interconnectedness of the VC nodes

Aspirations by Region

Affordable high quality feeds

Pig farmers association

Standard centralized abattoir

Affordable credit facilities

Pig industry recognized

High quality pig stock

A pig information system in place

Promotion of utilization of pig by products

Effective disease control mechanism

Greater Masaka

Specialized pig- related Extension Services

Controlled spread of ASF

Centralized slaughter facilities

Certified breeding centres

Collective marketing of pig products

Value addition on pig products

Farmer–based pig support centres

Documented and specialized actors within the value chain

Functional MSPs

Central

Quality Certified pig feeds

Genetic Resource Centre to ensure Quality

At least 200 Commercial Pig Farmers organized in the Region

Organized marketing of pigs and pig products

Effective disease control mechanism

Eastern

Prioritized constraints

Genetic decline of pigs

Water for production

Unfair prices

Central

Eastern

Greater Masaka

Poor quality feedsDiseases

Milestones

19/08/2014 – Inaugural regional MSP held in Kamuli. Two

regional MSPs held in Masaka and Mukono later that month.

2/09/2014 – First national MSP held in Kampala

– 9 person Interim Steering Committee appointed

– ToRs included lobbying MAAIF on Feeds Policy and finding solutions to the top three priority constraints

5/11/2014 – Second set of regional MSP meetings began

20/11/2014 – Second National MSP meeting held

Way forward

• Regional steering committees to coordinate MSPs as part of the sustainability plan

• Organisation into Associations of Farmers and Value Chain Actors

• Collective production planning, marketing and policy engagement

• Periodic newsletter for news updates and knowledge sharing across regions

CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. The CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish aims to increase the productivity of small-scale livestock and fish systems in sustainable ways, making meat, milk and fish more available and affordable across the developing world.

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