Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
The Rangeland Journal The Rangeland Journal Society
Journal of the Australian Rangeland Society
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > RJ > RJ09023
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 31(2)

Harnessing benefits from improved livestock water productivity in crop–livestock systems of sub-Saharan Africa: synthesis

Tilahun Amede A B D , Katrien Descheemaeker A B , Don Peden B and Andre van Rooyen C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A International Water Management Institute (IWMI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

B International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

C International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT), PO Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

D Corresponding author. Email: t.amede@cgiar.org

The Rangeland Journal 31(2) 169-178 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ09023
Submitted: 24 April 2009  Accepted: 11 May 2009   Published: 19 June 2009

Abstract

The threat of water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa is real, due to the expanding agricultural needs, climate variability and inappropriate land use. Livestock keeping is the fastest growing agricultural sector, partly because of increasing and changing demands for adequate, quality and diverse food for people, driven by growing incomes and demographic transitions. Besides the economic benefits, rising livestock production could also deplete water and aggravate water scarcity at local and global scales. The insufficient understanding of livestock–water interactions also led to low livestock productivity, impeded sound decision on resources management and undermined achieving positive returns on investments in agricultural water across sub-Saharan Africa. Innovative and integrated measures are required to improve water productivity and reverse the growing trends of water scarcity. Livestock water productivity (LWP), which is defined as the ratio of livestock outputs to the amount of water depleted, could be improved through: (i) raising the efficiency of the water inputs by integrating livestock with crop, water and landscape management policies and practices. Improving feed water productivity by maximising transpiration and minimising evaporation and other losses is critical; (ii) increasing livestock outputs through improved feed management, veterinary services and introducing system-compatible breeds; and (iii) because livestock innovation is a social process, it is not possible to gain LWP improvements unless close attention is paid to policies, institutions and their associated processes. Policies targeting infrastructure development would help livestock keepers secure access to markets, veterinary services and knowledge. This paper extracts highlights from various papers presented in the special issue of The Rangeland Journal on technologies and practices that would enable improving water productivity at various scales and the premises required to reverse the negative trends of water depletion and land degradation.

Additional keywords: institutions, interventions, policies.


References


Amede T., Geheb K., Douthwaite B. (2009) Enabling the uptake of livestock–water productivity interventions in the crop–livestock systems of sub-Saharan Africa. The Rangeland Journal 31, 223–230. open url image1

Amede T., Kirkby R., Stroud A. (2006) Intensification pathways from farmer strategies to sustainable livelihoods: AHIs’ experience. Currents 40/41, 30–37. open url image1

Asefa D. T., Oba G., Weladji R. B., Colman J. E. (2003) An assessment of restoration of biodiversity in degraded high mountain grazing lands in northern Ethiopia. Land Degradation and Development 14, 25–38.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Asner G. P., Elmore A. J., Olander L. P., Martin R. E., Harris A. T. (2004) Grazing systems, ecosystem responses and global change. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 29, 261–299.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Blümmel M., Rao O. P. P. (2006) Economic value of sorghum stover traded as fodder for urban and peri-urban dairy production in Hyderabad, India. International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter 47, 97–101. open url image1

Blümmel M., Samad M., Singh O. P., Amede T. (2009) Opportunities and limitations of food–feed crops for livestock feeding and implications for livestock–water productivity. The Rangeland Journal 31, 207–212. open url image1

Bossio D. (2009) Livestock and water: understanding the context based on the ‘Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture’. The Rangeland Journal 31, 179–186. open url image1

Bouman B. (2007) A conceptual framework for the improvement of crop water productivity at different spatial scales. Agricultural Systems 93, 43–60.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bruijnzeel L. A. (2004) Hydrological functions of tropical forests: not seeing the soil for the trees? Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 104, 185–228.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bruinsma J. (2003). ‘World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030. An FAO Perspective.’ (FAO: Rome.)

Chapagain A. , and Hoekstra A. (2003). Virtual water trade: a quantification of virtual water flows between nations in relation to international trade of livestock and livestock products. In: ‘Virtual Water Trade. Proceedings of the International Expert Meeting on Virtual Water Trade, Value of Water Research Report Series 12’. (Ed. A. Y. Hoekstra.) pp. 49–76. (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Institute for Water Education: Delft, The Netherlands.)

Cook S. E., Andersson M. S., Fisher M. J. (2009) Assessing the importance of livestock water use in basins. The Rangeland Journal 31, 195–205. open url image1

Cork S. , Peterson G. , Petschel-Held G. , Alcamo J. , Alder J. , Bennett E. , Carr E. , Deane D. , Nelson G. , Ribeiro T. , Butler C. , Mendiondo E. , Oluoch-Kosura W. , and Zurek M. (2005). Four scenarios. In: ‘Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being’. Vol. 2. (Eds S. R. Carpenter, P. L. Pingali, E. M. Bennett and M. B. Zurek.) pp. 223–296. (Island Press: Washington, DC.)

Costales A. , Gerber P. , and Steinfeld H. (2006). Underneath the livestock revolution. Livestock report 2006. (FAO: Rome.)

de Fraiture C. , Wicheins D. , Rockstrom J. , and Kemp-Benedict E. (2007). Looking ahead to 2050: scenarios of alternative investments approaches. In: ‘Water for Food, Water for Life: Comprehensive Assessment on Water in Agriculture’. (Ed. D. Molden.) pp. 91–145. (Earthscan: London.)

Delgado C. L. (2003) Rising consumption of meat and milk in developing countries has created a new food revolution. Journal of Nutrition 133, 3907S–3910S.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Derib S. D., Assefa T., Berhanu B., Zeleke G. (2009) Impacts of micro-basin water harvesting structures in improving vegetative cover in degraded hillslope areas of north-east Ethiopia. The Rangeland Journal 31, 259–265. open url image1

Descheemaeker K., Raes D., Nyssen J., Poesen J., Haile M., Deckers J. (2009) Changes in water flows and water productivity upon vegetation regeneration on degraded hillslopes in northern Ethiopia: a water balance modelling exercise. The Rangeland Journal 31, 237–249. open url image1

Devendra C., Thomas D. (2002) Crop-animal interactions in mixed farming systems in Asia. Agricultural Systems 71, 27–40.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Falkenmark M. (2007) Shift in thinking to address the 21st century hunger gap. Moving focus from blue to green water management. Water Resources Management 21, 3–18.
| Crossref |
open url image1

Gebreselassie S., Peden D., Haileslassie A., Mpairwe D. (2009) Factors affecting livestock water productivity: animal scale analysis using previous cattle feeding trials in Ethiopia. The Rangeland Journal 31, 251–258. open url image1

Gigar-Reverdin S. , and Gihad E. A. (1991). Water metabolism and intake in goats. In: ‘Goat Nutrition’. (Ed. P. Morand-Fehr.) pp. 37–45. (Pudoc: Wageningen, Germany.)

Hadjigeorgiou I., Osoro K., Fragoso de Almeida J. P., Molle G. (2005) Southern European grazing lands: production, environmental and landscape management aspects. Livestock Production Science 96, 51–59.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Haileslassie A., Peden D., Gebreselassie S., Amede T., Wagnew A., Taddesse G. (2009) Livestock water productivity in the Blue Nile Basin: assessment of farm scale heterogeneity. The Rangeland Journal 31, 213–222. open url image1

Herrero M. , Croucher M. , van Breugel P. , and Peden D. (2009). ‘The Water Productivity of Two Tropical Livestock-based Systems Differing in Intensification Level.’ Unpublished. (International Livestock Research Institute: Nairobi.)

Johansson R., Tsur Y., Roe T., Doukkali R., Dinar A. (2002) Pricing irrigation water: a review of theory and practice. Water Policy 4, 173–199.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Kijne J. W. , Barker R. , and Molden D. (2003). ‘Water Productivity in Agriculture.’ (CAB International: Wallingford, UK.)

King J. (1983). Livestock water needs in pastoral Africa in relation to climate and forage. ILCA Research Report 7. (International Livestock Centre for Africa: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.)

Kirby M. , Eastham J. , Mainuddin M. , and Thomas M. (2007). Basins water use accounting. In: ‘Baseline Conference: CP on Water for Food’. (International Center for Tropical Agriculture: Cali, Colombia.)

Lenné J., Fernandez-Rivera S., Blümmel M. (2003) Approaches to improve the utilization of food-feed crops – synthesis. Field Crops Research 84, 213–222.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Molden D. , Frenken K. , Barker R. , de Fraiture C. , Mati B. , Svendsen M. , Sadoff C. , and Finlayson C. (2007). Trends in water and agricultural development. In: ‘Water for Food, Water for Life: a Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture’. (Ed. D. Molden.) pp. 57–89. (Earthscan: London.)

Molden D. , Murray-Rust H. , Sakthivadivel R. , and Makin I. (2003). A water-productivity framework for understanding and action. In: ‘Water Productivity in Agriculture: Limits and Opportunities for Improvement’. (Eds J. W. Kijne, R. Barker and D. Molden.) pp. 1–18. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK.)

Negassa A. , and Jabbar M. (2008). Livestock ownership, commercial off-take rates and their determinants in Ethiopia. Research Report 9. (International Livestock Research Institute: Nairobi.)

North D. (1990). ‘Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Pagiola S., Ramírez E., Gobbi J., de Haan C., Ibrahim M., Murgueitio E., Ruíz J. P. (2007) Paying for the environmental services of silvopastoral practices in Nicaragua. Ecological Economics 64, 374–385.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Parthasarathy Rao P. , Birthal P. S. , and Ndjeunga J. (2005). ‘Crop–Livestock Economies in the Semi-arid Tropics: Facts, Trends and Outlook.’ (International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics: Patancheru, India.)

Passioura J. B. (2006) Increasing crop productivity when water is scarce – from breeding to field management. Agricultural Water Management 80, 176–196.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Peden D., Taddesse G., Haileslassie A. (2009) Livestock water productivity: implications for sub-Saharan Africa. The Rangeland Journal 31, 187–193. open url image1

Peden D. , Tadesse G. , and Misra A. (2007). Water and livestock for human development. In: ‘Water for Food, Water for Life: Comprehensive Assessment on Water in Agriculture’. (Ed. D. Molden) pp. 485–514. (Earthscan: London.)

Pimentel D., Berger B., Filiberto D., Newton M., Wolfe B., Karabinakis E., Clark S., Poon E., Abbett E., Nadagopol S. (2004) Water resources: agricultural and environmental issues. Bioscience 54, 909–918.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Postel S. (2000) Entering an era of water scarcity: the challenges ahead. Ecological Applications 10, 941–948.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Renault D., Wallendar W. (2000) Nutritional water productivity and diets. Agricultural Water Management 45, 275–296.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Richmond A., Kaufman R., Myneni R. (2007) Valuing ecosystem services: a shadow price for net primary production. Ecological Economics 64, 454–462.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rockström J., Barron J. (2007) Water productivity in rainfed systems: overview of challenges and analysis of opportunities in water scarcity prone savannahs. Irrigation Science 25, 299–311.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Roothaert R., Franzel S. (2001) Farmers’ preferences and use of local fodder trees and shrubs in Kenya. Agroforestry Systems 52, 239–252.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Schiere J., Singh K., De Boer J. (2000) Farming systems research applied in a project on feeding of crop residues in India. Experimental Agriculture 36, 51–62.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Scoones I. , and Wolmer W. (2006). Livestock, disease, trade and markets: policy choices for the livestock sector in Africa. IDS Working Paper 269. (Institute of Development Studies: Brighton, UK.)

Singh B., Ajeigbe H., Tarawali S., Fernandez-Rivera S., Abubakar M. (2003) Improving the production and utilization of cowpea as food and fodder. Field Crops Research 84, 169–177.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Singh O., Sharma A., Singh R., Shah T. (2004) Virtual water trade in dairy economy. Irrigation water productivity in Gujarat. Economic and Political Weekly 39, 3492–3497. open url image1

Speedy A. W. (2003) Global production and consumption of animal source foods. The Journal of Nutrition 133, 4048S–4053S.
|  CAS | PubMed |
open url image1

Steinfeld H. , Gerber P. , Wassenaar T. , Castel V. , Rosales M. , and de Haan C. (2006). ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow. Environmental Issues and Options.’ (FAO: Rome.)

Thornton P. , Kruska R. , Henninger N. , Kristjanson P. , Reid R. , Atieno F. , Odero A. , and Ndegwa T. (2002). ‘Mapping Poverty and Livestock in the Developing World.’ (International Livestock Research Institute: Nairobi.)

Wallace J. (2000) Increasing agricultural water use efficiency to meet future food production. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 82, 105–119.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Waters-Bayer A., Bayer W. (2009) Enhancing local innovation to improve water productivity in crop–livestock systems. The Rangeland Journal 31, 231–235. open url image1

Wilson T. (2007) Perceptions, practices, principles and policies in provision of livestock water in Africa. Agricultural Water Management 90, 1–12.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

WOCAT (World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies) (2007). ‘Where the Land is Greener – Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide.’ (Eds H. Liniger and W. Critchley.) (WOCAT: Bern, Switzerland.)

World Bank (2005). Investments in agricultural water for poverty reduction and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Synthesis report. (World Bank: Washington, DC.)