Feed and Fodder: Critical Input for Enhanced Livestock Productivity, Human Food an Nutrition Security, Livestock Sector Stability and Youth Employment

Abstract

Globally two thirds (2/3) of arable land is for raising livestock, and fifty-four percent (54.4%)1of coarse grains (such as maize, sorghum, barley, millet, oats and rye) is purposively produced for feeding animals. This is the formula that has cushioned and safeguarded global food systems: feed and fodder security is critical to attainment of human food and nutrition security. Africa boasts of a third2 of global livestock resources, held by a third of its population who recognize the intrinsic values that livestock hold for food security, wealth and wellbeing. Africa’s livestock sector has and continues to be predominated by producers that invest in livestock assets whose value they cannot unlock, due to the fragile feed and fodder systems they depend on, that keep their livestock perennially unproductive and highly vulnerable the recurrent climatic vagaries, among other factors.