Project 2: Urban and peri-urban farming
Project leader: Sofia Boqvist
Sub-project 1: Zoonotic infections among cattle in urban and peri urban areas in Uganda
Principal investigator at SLU: Sofia Boqvist, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health
Popular summary
Urbanization, population growth and income growth mainly in developing countries have caused an increase in demand for food of animal origin. This has lead to increased small-scale animal farming in urban- and peri urban areas. There are several advantages with such production system, for example closeness to markets, good opportunity to raise money and an important source of protein. There are, however, challenges that represent serious constraints to the further development of urban and peri-urban animal farming. One such challenge is spread of infectious diseases, including zoonoses. Zoonotic diseases have negative impact on animal health and production and also constitute risks for public health.
This project is performed in collaboration with the Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. The focus is on the zoonotic bacteria brucella, which causes reproductive failure in animals and severe disease in humans.
The aims of the project are to study the importance of brucellosis among small-holders in urban and peri urban areas, risks for transmission of the bacteria and socio-economic factors of importance for spread and occurrence of brucellosis. The project will be located in the Northern and Central parts of Uganda. A combination of participatory epidemiology, including farmer interviews and field sampling, as well as serological-, bacteriological and epidemiological analyses will be used to meet the aims.
Sub-project 2: Feed for livestock in urban and peri-urban areas in Uganda
Principal investigator at SLU: Jan Erik Lindberg, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management
Popular summary
Lack of feed is the main constraint that limits livestock production and purchase of feeds is not an option for poor households. In urban and peri-urban areas, farmers have limited possibilities to grow feed for their animals and there are difficulties related to transport and purchase of feed. Therefore, available by-products of varying origin are used as animal feed. However, the quantity and quality of these by-products is not sufficient to cover the needs for high production. Meanwhile, there is a lack of knowledge on how to make better use of those feed resources that already exists locally, such as by-products from food crops. By better utilizing available feed resources for livestock, the productivity can be improved, resulting in a surplus. Surplus produce will improve food security and nutrition of rural and urban poor, and can be distributed to the market place by vendors and merchants.
The aim of this project is to identify, quantify and nutritionally classify available feed resources in peri-urban and urban districts in Kampala, Uganda. The identification and quantification will be done in close collaboration with university staff at Makerere University and the urban farmers, local leaders and extension workers in Kampala. Representative samples of identified feeds will be collected and analyzed to assess their potential energy and nutritive value. Based on the data obtained in the project nutritionally balanced rations for different classes of livestock (pigs, poultry and dairy cows) will be formulated and sustainable feeding strategies for livestock feeding will be worked out. This information will be presented in leaflets, pamphlets and/or booklets, and will be used to transfer the obtained knowledge to farmers in Farmers field schools.
Sub-project 3: Manure management
Principal investigator at SLU: Björn Vinnerås & Cecilia Lalander, both Department of Energy & Technology
Popular summary
Manure management does always pose a risk for disease transmission either to other animals or to humans. Several zoonotic diseases (infect both animals and humans) are commonly found in manure, e.g. Salmonella, Chryptosporidia, Ascaris. Animals kept in the city produce manure that in many cases does not have a natural utilisation, as it would have on farms where the manure is returned to the land as fertiliser, either directly or after some storage. Currently in Kampala there are three main flows of the manure, all three equal in size: one third is used for local crop and grass production; one third is bagged and sold as fertiliser; one third is left where it was dropped. All three manure management solutions involved a risk for disease transmission, to animals as well as humans. By adding a treatment step that removes the potential pathogens, a fertiliser, more accepted and safer than the currently available one, could be produce. The manure is a valuable source of nutrients that can have a great impact of the poor over-harvested urban soils. Moreover, the manure can be used for production of animal feed: the manure is used as food source for earth worms (vermicomposting) or black soldier fly larvae, which upon drying can be used as fodder for poultry, fish and swine. The dried worms/larvae are high in protein and thus has high commercial value. As suchit could generate a valuable income for small hold farmers. However, the risks of disease transmission of these treatment methods are yet to be established. This sub project will look at methods for removing all potential pathogens from the animal droppings, while maintaining, or improving, its commercial value.
Collaborating partner: MSc Allan Komakech, Makerere University, Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering.