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agrl_innovations_in_ssa.pdf?utm_content=buffercb41d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
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Lessons learned for scal<strong>in</strong>g up. The promotion of market-orientated smallholder dairy<br />
production, which significantly raises household <strong>in</strong>come, can have a profound effect on poverty<br />
reduction. In Kenya, development has been built on efficient market systems, AI and disease<br />
control, <strong>in</strong>frastructure provision, research and extension <strong>in</strong> support of smallholder production.<br />
Government support has been crucial for this. At the same time subsidised support systems<br />
proved to be unsusta<strong>in</strong>able requir<strong>in</strong>g a balance between public and private action. Government<br />
provision of public goods needs to compliment <strong>in</strong>centives for private market<strong>in</strong>g, process<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and <strong>in</strong>put supplies.<br />
The development of a successful smallholder <strong>in</strong>dustry requires two complimentary elements.<br />
Firstly, <strong>in</strong>creased productivity requires improved livestock breeds, strong disease control and<br />
veter<strong>in</strong>ary services and improved quality and quantity of feeds. Given the need to encourage<br />
many smallholder dairy producers, delivery of support services rema<strong>in</strong>s dependent on local<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutions and their development.<br />
Secondly, expand<strong>in</strong>g market <strong>in</strong>stitutions with facilities for milk bulk<strong>in</strong>g and collection, and group<br />
organisational structures are essential and can be most effectively supplied by the private<br />
sector. Although formal licensed markets based on processed milk products are important,<br />
<strong>in</strong>formal markets sell<strong>in</strong>g raw milk, <strong>in</strong>formal dairy products with low-cost process<strong>in</strong>g rema<strong>in</strong> an<br />
essential component of a successful dairy <strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />
Kenya’s sweet potatoes<br />
This case study concerns the research and<br />
development of an orange-fleshed sweet potato, high<br />
<strong>in</strong> β-carotene, <strong>in</strong>valuable for improv<strong>in</strong>g household<br />
nutrition and food security especially <strong>in</strong> times<br />
of hunger or drought, and for pre-natal care and<br />
households affected by Human Immunodeficiency<br />
Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/<br />
AIDS).<br />
New varieties were developed as a result of a<br />
ten-year research programme. Government extension services and a number of<br />
NGOs have subsequently participated <strong>in</strong> programmes provid<strong>in</strong>g tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, propagation<br />
and distribution of v<strong>in</strong>es, process<strong>in</strong>g and the l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g of producers to markets. These<br />
programmes covered many parts of Kenya but <strong>in</strong> particular Coast, Eastern, Rift Valley,<br />
Nyanza and Western Prov<strong>in</strong>ces.<br />
Over 2,660 households, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g many vulnerable ones, have benefited, with<br />
sweet potatoes be<strong>in</strong>g grown for eat<strong>in</strong>g as fresh vegetables and processed product.<br />
Traditionally regarded as a women’s crop sweet potatoes have made an important<br />
contribution to improv<strong>in</strong>g the livelihoods of women, both as a food and a cash crop.<br />
Full commercialisation is now tak<strong>in</strong>g place through promotion <strong>in</strong> urban areas with a<br />
28 Agricultural Innovation <strong>in</strong> Sub-Saharan Africa