MilkIT
Alan Duncan
MilkIT Pre-inception Workshop, Nairobi
24th – 25th January 2012
Enhancing dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania through
feed innovation and value chain development approaches

Why are we here?
IFAD have agreed to fund a feed
value chain and innovation project in
India and Tanzania: MilkIT (Enhancing
dairy-based livelihoods in India and Tanzania
through feed innovation and value chain
development approaches)

IFAD funding mechanisms
MilkIT is funded from Rome as a
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG)
TAG’s are regional in nature and
designed to provide research
support to IFAD investment
projects.

Fodder Adoption Project
2007-2010

What is planned for
MilkIT?
Building on FAP
Further experimentation with
innovation approaches
Value chain analysis and action
research
Development of tools for feed and
market assessment

Objective
To contribute to improved dairy-
supported livelihoods in India and
Tanzania via intensification of
smallholder production focusing on
feed enhancement using innovation
and value chain approaches.

Structure
Budget: 1 million (for 2 countries for 3 years)
Duration: 3 years
Implementation
– Co-ordination: ILRI (Alan)
– India research: ILRI (Nils)
– Tanzania research: CIAT (Brigitte)
– Additional inputs
• on feeds: Ben, Michael
• on value chains/ economic assessment: Ayele?
• on Tz dairy scene and wider issues: Amos

Links to IFAD investments
In Tanzania
– Agricultural Services Support
Programme (2007-2014)
– Rural Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprise Support Programme (2007 –
2014)
In India
– Integrated Livelihoods Support
Project, Uttarakhand (starting
imminently)

Objectives
 Institutional strengthening: To strengthen use
of value chain and innovation approaches
among dairy stakeholders to improve feeding
strategies for dairy cows.
 Productivity enhancement: To develop
options for improved feeding strategies leading
to yield enhancement with potential income
benefits.
 Knowledge sharing: To strengthen knowledge
sharing mechanisms on feed development
strategies at local, regional and international
levels

Links to other initiatives
More milk, meat and fish, for and by
the poor (CRP 3.7)
More milk, for and by the poor (Irish
Aid Tz)
EADD2 (Southern Highlands of Tz)
ELKS India (Tata)

Key elements
Tools
Innovation platforms
Value chain assessments

Some examples of tools
Tool for Feed Technology
Screening and Prioritisation
(Techfit)

Feed Assessment Tool
(FEAST)

PRA plus quick quantitative
assessment of feed resources
PRA
Quantitative
assessment

Has been extensively improved
and a sharing site created

More on tools at CRP
3.7 w/s in Addis,
week beginning
March 5.