Under-research crops and livestock as key contributors to food security in Africa - Dr Appolinaire Djikeng, Technology Manager, Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa (BecA) Hub

1. Panel 03: Food nutrition and safety
Under-research crops and livestock as key
contributors to food security in Africa
Appolinaire Djikeng, PhD
BecA-ILRI Hub, ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya

2. Food and nutrition security in Africa
 Malnutrition/Undernutrition (There
is 20% annual increment since 1990)
 Stunting in children under five (40%
in Africa – 195 Millions total in
developing countries)
 East Africa; Kenya and Tanzania, 2011
(< 5 years old: 44% stunting; pregnant
women: 52% anemia)
 Food safety (toxins and microbes)
Photo courtesy: Daniel Sila Innovations:
JKUAT  Better crops and livestock animals
 Safe food
 Alternative to classical crops and livestock

3. We need more than classical large livestock
and more than staple crops
Amaranth
 Leave and grain edible
 High protein contents (^30% more
than the common cereals),
 Essential fatty acids
 Micro-nutrients (vitamins and
minerals)
 It is highly tolerant of arid
CIAT monogastric project, 2009- 11 environments

5. Under-research livestock (Cavies) as key
contributors to food security in Africa
 High protein value (19-21%)
=> the highest
 High carcass yield (≈85%)
Guinée Côte
d‘Ivoire
Nigeria
 Low fat contents (< 8%)
Cameroon
 Mineral contents (≈ 1%)
Guinea Rwanda Kenya
Congo DR Congo Burundi
Geo-referenced
Located from literature/key informant
Tanzania Our focus:
Known from region only; importance unknown
From literature/key informant; not important Malawi Targeting women and children in
Only used as pet
Mozambique
Cameroon and Cameroon:
Cavies for more protein and income
Shaded area of distribution after map by Ngoupayou et al. (1995)

6. Amaranth as key contributor to food
security in Africa
Madiira 1 Madiira 2
Low to medium altitude Low to high altitude
About 40 t/ha About 40 t/ha
Narrow leaves Broad leaves
Sweet tasting Sweet tasting
Long harvesting period Long harvesting period

7. Amaranth as key contributor to food
security in Africa
Link with SME in Kenya Link with GAIN initiative

8. Key message
Non-staple crops
Photo courtesy: and under-
Brigitte Maass
CIAT researched livestock
offer solutions to
food and nutritional
security in Africa
Photo courtesy:
Daniel Sila
JKUAT
Photo courtesy: Daniel Sila

9. Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International
Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub)
Mobilizing biosciences for Africa’s development
1. Research
2. Capacity building and training
3. Research and Technology-related
services
4. Focal point for the agricultural
research community in eastern and
central Africa
5. Promotion of product development
and delivery

10. Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International
Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI Hub)
Mobilizing biosciences for Africa’s development
RESEARCH (and DEVELOPMENT)
 Food safety
 Nutritional security and income generation
 The food security (crop and livestock improvement)
 The biosciences for climate change mitigation
 The disease diagnostics (crops and animals)
 The “Low science input” crops and animals (orphan
crops and animals)
 The agroecosystem health
CAPACITY BUILDING
 Strengthening Individuals and institutions
 Visiting scientist program
Alignments:
ABI, CAADP, ASARECA, RUFORUM, other …

11. The BecA Hub team
10 countries Australia, Benin, Cameroon, England, Ethiopia, Italy, Kenya, Scotland, USA

12. Thank you
The Government of Kenya
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture
AusAID/CSIRO
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)Rockefeller Foundation
Doyle Foundation
UNESCO, IFS, ASARECA, RUFORUM, etc …
Together we can achieve food security in Africa