Managing local fodder species for a competitive gender-sensitive goat value chain: achievements and lessons learnt from Climate-Smart Villages in northern Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, women participation in the small ruminant value chain as a poverty reduction strategy is increasing. However, fodder of good nutritive value is relatively unavailable. Considering this need, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) has been using its Climate-Smart Village (CSV) approach to test and promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) interventions such as the management of useful fodder tree and shrub species.
This research for development work was initiated in 2016 and implemented through various steps. We started with the analysis of ruminant production systems and identification of predominant feeding practices in order to identify and prioritize potential browse species for quality in terms of their nutrient profile, preference and digestibility by goats. This was followed by an evaluation of the goat value chain in the context of climate change and variability, with suggestions on improvement options for farmers especially women. We also investigated the potential availability of the prioritized browse species and interventions needed. The development of a multispecies fodder bank that concentrates preferred species on the same farm management unit alongside forbs, grasses and fast-growing fodder legumes was then identified and initiated for ensuring sustainable all-year-round fodder and propagule availability for small ruminant producers and traders against increased future demand for meat. A combination of desktop review, questionnaire interviews, direct field observations and experiments was therefore used between 2016 and 2019 to generate findings presented in this info note.