Improving the Utilization of Sweetpotato
and other Roots and Tuber crop residues
for pig feeds in Uganda
Danilo Pezo, Gerald Kyalo & Peter Lule
CIP-Uganda/ ILRI-Uganda
11 February 2015

Implementation Team
Name Institution Role (s)
G.Kyalo, D.
Pezo, P. Lule
CIP
ILRI
Overall coordination
Emily Ouma
Ben Lukuyu
Michael Dione
ILRI Knowledge on feed resources, methods of silage preparation, economic feasibility
and social acceptability studies in pig value chains
Apolo K.
Kasharu
L.Mayega
CHAIN UG
Ltd
DVO
Masaka
Daily records of feeding & animal responses, sampling of feeds, on-farm validation
of silage preparation and SP-based diets
Strengthen capacity of stakeholders to uptake silage making as a business
Pilot dissemination models for promotion and scaling up
Grace Babirye
Kizito
G. Nadiope
VEDCO
ISU-UG
Daily records of feeding & animal responses, sampling of feeds, on-farm validation
of silage preparation and SP-based diets
Strengthen capacity of stakeholders to uptake silage making as a business
Pilot dissemination models for promotion and scaling up
Jolly Kabirizi NARO-
NaLIRRI
Conduct on-station silage trials determining levels of additives for cost effective
silage production
Determine and document economic optimum levels of energy/protein
supplementation using locally available feed resources
David
Mutetikka
Makerere
University
Determine and document economic optimum levels of energy/protein
supplementation using locally available feed resources
Conduct on-station silage trials determining levels of additives for cost effective
silage production
Student supervision
Julius Mwine UMU Identify and asses dual purpose SP varieties and their cutting management
Student supervision
Christopher
Mulindwa
PPM Linking farmers to markets
Scaling up research findings on the use of SP-based diets

Development problem/ opportunity
• The smallholder pig sector is rapidly growing in Uganda
with 1.1 million households rearing ca. 3.5 million pigs.
Women and children are mostly responsible for pig
management.
• Pork consumption is increasing, and Uganda ranks 1st in
East Africa in terms of per capita consumption of pork.
• Pigs play an important role in the livelihoods of poor
families generating income to cover emergency needs and
paying school fees. Pigs are also the source of manure for
cash crops.
• High fertility and short generation intervals make pig rearing
potentially profitable, and a quick option for income
generation.

Development problem/ opportunity
• Smallholder pig farmers in Uganda have identified
feeding as one of the most important constraints in
production, due to seasonality, poor quality of feeds and
lack of knowledge on supplementation strategies.
• Feeding costs represent 62-70% of the variable costs in
smallholder farms in peri-urban and rural settings.
• Among all feeds, commercial concentrates are the most
expensive. Therefore, smallholder farmers make
extensive use of crop residues, grasses, weeds, kitchen
leftovers and agricultural by-products, but need advise
for better use.
• Sweet-potato vines the most commonly used fodder
source in 35 out of 36 villages studied in Central
Uganda.

Development problem/ opportunity
• We propose to improve the
utilization of sweetpotato
residues (non-marketable
roots, vines and peels) to
help overcoming feeding
constraints in pig production
systems, and improving the
livelihoods of smallholder pig
farmers, as well as creating
job opportunities for other
actors.

Development problem/ opportunity
• Sweetpotato (SP) is a widely grown cop
and a good source of energy (roots)
and protein (vines), but highly
perishable.
• Feed conservation strategies will help to
reduce wastage of SP residues, and
extent their use in periods of feed
scarcity.
• Simple silage making technologies and
strategic supplementation are easy and
affordable options for conservation of
SP roots and vines; but, new options
need to be assessed and shared with
farmers.

Approach
• The business case will create a model for proper
organization of SP value chain actors for production,
conservation, and marketing of SP-based feeds in form of
silage, purposely for pig feeds (but could be for otrhe
livestock as well).
• Strengthen the existing linkages between pig farmers and SP
traders in the peri-urban and urban markets to increase
access to SP residues from markets and other RTB farms for
silage making.
• Building capacity of women, men and youth for
entrepreneurship and effective business operations of silage
making and pig enterprise development on a regular basis,
coupled with business mentorship programs.

Approach
• The business model will be implemented through the
existing multi-stakeholders SP and pig platforms.
• The business plan will be executed through pilot and
monitoring activities. Two piloting channels are proposed: i)
collective action with farmers groups, and ii) individual
innovation champion farmers.
• Silage making will allow women and youth to reduce time
sourcing feeds and feeding animals. It will also help cutting
efforts devoted to cooking SP roots and other RTB, drying
and pounding SP residues, and reducing the use of fuel
(e.g., firewood) for cooking.

The business model

Research Questions
1. Is the integration of SP and pig enterprises
technically feasible; economically viable;
socially acceptable and environmentally
sustainable in Uganda?
2. What are the best SP silage preparation and
feeding options for smallholder pig
production in Uganda?
3. What are the best dual-purpose SP varieties
for production in the targeted biophysical
and socio-economic niches for integrated
SP -pig production systems in Uganda?
4. Which are the most effective delivery
mechanisms for the production and
marketing of SP silage by small and
medium scale pig producers, especially
women, in Uganda?

Technical Feasibility
 SP is a crop adapted to the agro-ecological conditions
where the project will operate in Uganda.
 Pig production is a common livelihood activity in
smallholder farms, and the demand for pork is increasing.
 SP roots are rich in energy & vines rich in protein, and
both are highly digestible, hence constitute a good basal
diet for pigs.
 Successful SP silage production and utilization in pig
feeding has been tested successfully in SE Asia, China &
Kenya, and widely adopted in the first two. Recent efforts
in Masaka has been carried out.
 Effective integration of SP and pig systems is a farming
option in countries with similar biophysical and
socioeconomic settings than in Uganda.

Economic Feasibility
 Farmers in Masaka and Kamuli districts, already use
SPR and SPV, and other RTBs for feeding pigs while
supplementing with commercial feeds.
 SPS is a cost effective feed conservation strategy,
contributing to a reduction of 17.3% in the costs of pig
production, and addresses seasonality in feed
availability.
 Silage making prevents wastage of SP residues,
therefore more animals can be fed with the same SP
garden area.
 Silage making represents a value addition option for SP
farmers and new job opportunities for other VC actors.

Feasibility
Social feasibility
• Feeding SP vines to pigs is a traditional practice.
Harvesting of the vines for pig consumption is commonly
done by women and children and is an acceptable
practice among many communities.
• Farmers (both female and male) preferred the use of
SPV to any other fodder types, recognizing several
valuable attributes: high palatability, boost growth and
reduce fat in pork.
• Although livestock fodder markets are not common,
huge potential exists for SPS marketing, especially in
those seasons when feed scarcity occurs.

Research Outputs
1. At least two methods for SP silage preparation validated
and piloted (300 W,100 M, and 100 Y)
2. Farmers and other stakeholders learn on the best use
of SP as feeds for pigs (250,000 HH)
3. Strengthened capacity for uptake silage making as
business for W, T and M.
4. Dual purpose SP varieties & their management
identified & promoted (SP & pig farmers, SP multipliers)
5. Economic viability & social acceptability of SP-pig
systems validated and documented
6. At least 2 dissemination models piloted and tested, and
best options ready for scaling-up and –out.

Conclusion
More pork by and for poor
households, and new business
opportunities by integrating
wisely sweetpotato and pig
feeding technologies