Thursday, February 23, 2012
   
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Production of animal feeds and charcoal from prosopis

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Production of animal feeds and charcoal from prosopis
The aggressive colonisation of useful habitats such as pasture and farmlands by Prosopis juliflora has generated a lot of concern and debate.  However, a community in Garissa District is turning this tree, known for its negative impact on the livelihoods of people living in drylands and effect on animal health, into an income generating resource.
Through DMI support, the beneficiary community is making animal feeds from prosopis pods and charcoal from the trees. They have proven that when properly managed, prosopis species may provide a useful resource for poor communities. DMI piloted the initiatives to reduce the negative impact of prosopis in Garissa District by exploring opportunities for the use of the tree pods as animal feeds and improving the production capacities of prosopis charcoal producers. The initiatives are implemented in partnership with a local non-governmental organisation, Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives (CSDI), and the Ministry of Livestock.
Animal feeds
The objective of this initiative is to increase revenue for pastoral communities through the use of prosopis pods and leaves as animal feed for use during the drought periods. Provision of prosopis-based animal feed rations produced locally by pastoralists for pastoralists is expected to mitigate the impacts of drought. The project also attempts to establish linkages with the animal feeds industry.
The project has procured a hammer mill and one hydraulic press to enable beneficiary groups to mill and package prosopis-based animal feeds. A trial to assess how these additional feeds can improve animal nutrition, especially during drought crises, was started in March with the production of prosopis-based feeds blocks.
Charcoal production
DMI and Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP) are also promoting sustainable charcoal production from prosopis wood. This has been done enhancing the efficiency of members of the Prosopis Charcoal Interest Group in production systems as well as marketing of products. The project has procured kilns for the charcoal burners, who are not allowed to fell any other tree species.

The aggressive colonisation of useful habitats such as pasture and farmlands by Prosopis juliflora has generated a lot of concern and debate.  However, a community in Garissa District is turning this tree, known for its negative impact on the livelihoods of people living in drylands and effect on animal health, into an income generating resource. 

Through DMI support, the beneficiary community is making animal feeds from prosopis pods and charcoal from the trees. They have proven that when properly managed, prosopis species may provide a useful resource for poor communities.

DMI piloted the initiatives to reduce the negative impact of prosopis in Garissa District by exploring opportunities for the use of the tree pods as animal feeds and improving the production capacities of prosopis charcoal producers. The initiatives are implemented in partnership with a local non-governmental organisation, Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives (CSDI), and the Ministry of Livestock.

Animal feedsThe objective of this initiative is to increase revenue for pastoral communities through the use of prosopis pods and leaves as animal feed for use during the drought periods. Provision of prosopis-based animal feed rations produced locally by pastoralists for pastoralists is expected to mitigate the impacts of drought. The project also attempts to establish linkages with the animal feeds industry. 

The project has procured a hammer mill and one hydraulic press to enable beneficiary groups to mill and package prosopis-based animal feeds.

A trial to assess how these additional feeds can improve animal nutrition, especially during drought crises, was started in March with the production of prosopis-based feeds blocks. 

Charcoal production

DMI and Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP) are also promoting sustainable charcoal production from prosopis wood. This has been done enhancing the efficiency of members of the Prosopis Charcoal Interest Group in production systems as well as marketing of products. The project has procured kilns for the charcoal burners, who are not allowed to fell any other tree species.