To read the Fodder Learning Study discussed in this event, please follow this link.
We are excited to announce our upcoming learning event, “Building Climate Resilience in Arid and Semi-Arid Landscapes: Unlocking Fodder Value Chains for Livestock Production,” scheduled for Thursday, July 3rd from 3:00–4:30 PM EAT / 8:00–9:30 AM EDT.
Event Description: The United Nations (UN) projects that global food demand will increase by about 60-70% to meet food consumption levels by 2050. However, production systems within the livestock sector continue to face intensifying pressure due to climate change, land degradation, and growing food demand worldwide. This session will explore climate mitigation strategies for enhancing feed availability and affordability to improve fodder production systems, addressing climate change impacts and rangeland degradation in Northern Kenya. Join us as we discuss these key findings from a recent study on critical production and marketing bottlenecks and proposed scalable interventions to strengthen fodder production systems.
Please see the promotional flyer for additional details. The event is virtual and open to the public, and we encourage you to share this event with colleagues or partners who may be interested in attending.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ziana Rugut at ziana.rugut@mwawater.org.
We look forward to your participation! Materials from the webinar will be posted here following the learning event.
Lastly, if you are interested in learning more about the Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development Plus (RAPID+) program, please visit our website or see this packet of learning briefs that cover a variety of topics.
Post-Event Summary
As an event follow-up, some key takeaways include:
- Pastoralism is shifting. As climate change continues to alter grazing cycles, many pastoralist communities in ASALs are adopting more sedentary lifestyles—creating a growing need for reliable fodder production.
- Fodder is a storage business. Beyond just growing it, there is real value in preserving fodder—through baling, silage, or storage—to bridge seasonal gaps and stabilize pricing.
- Market integration is essential. Market-oriented fodder production should be encouraged through integration of both livestock and fodder production systems.
- Stimulating demand and financing are key. Aggregation models, extension services, and digital input credit schemes (like those used by Apollo Agriculture) are proving useful. Blended finance and grants are also helping early-stage fodder enterprises get off the ground.
To access the full report for the Fodder Learning Study discussed in this webinar, please follow this link. The study found that fodder demand in Northern Kenya’s ASALs is highly seasonal, current production is far below need, and producers face major constraints like limited acreage, poor storage, weak market access, and lack of technical support, despite emerging opportunities in feedlots and peri-urban dairies. Improving fodder production, storage, and market linkages in Northern Kenya’s ASALs strengthens climate-resilient livelihoods, helping reduce pressure on fragile grazing lands and scarce water resources. This directly supports household stability and community capacity to sustain vital WASH services.
If you are interested in watching a recording of the webinar or sharing it with colleagues, you can find it on YouTube at this link. You can also find the slides from the event at this link.
Lastly, if you are interested in learning more about the Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development Plus (RAPID+) program, please visit our website or see this packet of learning briefs that cover a variety of topics.