Rebounding from the Brink of Extinction
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CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE REBOUNDING FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION: Commercial production of milk amongst pastoralists for climate change resilience in Uganda ABOUT CTA The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is a joint international institution of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union (EU). CTA operates under the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and is funded by the EU. For more information on CTA, visit www.cta.int Photos cover, p. 9, p. 25, p. 31: © Shutterstock All other photos: © Authors © CTA, 2018. ISBN 978-92-9081-637-9 DISCLAIMER This work has been made with the financial assistance of the European Union. However, it remains under the sole responsibility of its author(s) and never reflects CTA’s or its co- publisher’s or European Union’s opinions or statements whatsoever nor as well the opinion of any country or State member. 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REBOUNDING FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION: Commercial production of milk amongst pastoralists for climate change resilience in Uganda Ernie Niemi Jacob Manyindo President, Maendeleo ya Jamii Natural Resource Economics Kampala, Uganda Eugene, Oregon USA 97401 [email protected] [email protected] Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the financial support provided by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Additional appreciation goes to the many individuals – pastoralists, government officials and participants in Uganda’s commercial milk industry – who patiently provided information about pastoralists’ milk production in Uganda. We especially acknowledge and appreciate the time and experience that Emmanuel Manyindo and Aston Manyindo contributed to collect data, provide current and historical context, and review our findings. The appendix identifies individuals who patiently shared their experiences and expertise with us in meetings in the Southwestern and Central Regions. Natural Resource Economics, however, is solely responsible for the report’s content. The contents provided in this document are exclusively those of Natural Resource Economics and do not represent the official opinion of CTA or the individuals mentioned. Acronyms GDP Gross Domestic Product NGO Non Governmental Organisation UCCCU Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union UHT Ultra High Temperature USAID United States Agency for International Development iv Rebounding from the brink of extinction Contents v Contents Acknowledgements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � iv Acronyms � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � iv Executive summary � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 Introduction � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 1. Pastoralists of sub-Saharan Africa and their growing vulnerability to climate change and other risks �������������������������������������������������������������������4 2. The potential for commercial milk production to strengthen pastoralists’ incomes and resilience . .5 3. Potential impediments to pastoralists’ commercial milk production . .6 4. Background on successful efforts to increase pastoralists’ commercial milk production in Uganda �������������������������������������������������������������������������������6 Geographical area of the case study � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 Development process of the case study � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 1. Change in land tenure . 12 2. Presidential leadership ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 3. Livestock breeding . 13 4. Availability of essential veterinary medicines ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 5. Improved rangeland management ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 6. Adoption of agro-pastoralism ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15 7. Growth of milk markets . 15 8. Expansion of dairy cooperatives . 16 9. Improved infrastructure. 17 10. Availability of extension services . 17 11. Over-the-fence learning ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 12. Improved levels of education ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 13. Support from Uganda’s development partners ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Adoption � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19 1. The adoption process in Uganda’s Southwest and Central regions . 19 2. Potential adoption elsewhere . 21 Impacts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24 Validation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 26 Drivers of the case study � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 27 Potential for scaling-up the case study � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28 Sustainability � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29 Conclusion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 References � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 32 Appendix: Case-study participants � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34 Rebounding from the brink of extinction Contents v Executive summary Changes in climate that intensify drought and accelerate the spread of livestock parasites and diseases darken the economic future for sub-Saharan pastoralists. Already stressed, as industrial and urban development narrow their access to pastures and water for their animals, many pastoralists face a bleak choice: abandon their livestock and their cultural heritage or die. In Uganda, however, the outlook for pastoralists is becoming much brighter. Thousands of pastoralists in Uganda point the way toward a better option: commercial milk production. By settling down on privatised plots of land and crossbreeding their indigenous herds with Friesian cattle, they now produce five times more milk per cow. They earn more from the sale of milk than from the sale of livestock, increasing their ability to buy veterinary medicines, build watering ponds and take other actions that provide insulation from climate-related increases in diseases and droughts. They receive this income on a predictable, weekly basis, increasing their resilience to disease outbreaks and insect infestations. Their increased production, consumption and sale of milk have reduced hunger within their own homes and provided them with the means to broaden their economic base through investments in education, housing, transportation and diversified economic and social activities. Several interrelated factors promoted the transition to commercial milk production. Changes in governmental policy following a civil war made it clear that privatisation of land would arrest the conventional movements of nomadic pastoralists.