The Livestock-Climate Change CRSP is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity designed to build scientific capacity in West Africa: the International Graduate Student Fellowship Program-West Africa (IGSFP-WA). The LCC CRSP is committed to building research capacity in the regions where we work, including West Africa because well trained, innovative scientists and leaders are essential to achieving broader research and development goals and building a sustainable, prosperous future.

The IGSFP-WA for Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change is intended to provide opportunities for graduate education that prepare students in West Africa for interdisciplinary careers within the vision and objectives of the Livestock Climate-Change CRSP (see LCC CRSP Research Strategy).

Fellows will be expected to become specialists who can contribute to research regarding the adaptation of livestock systems to climate change in the LCC CRSP countries of focus in West Africa (Mali and Senegal). Selected fellows must propose to conduct research in Mali or Senegal. In this way, the LCC CRSP aims to build research capacity.

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The Summer 2011 issue of Chronicles, the quarterly newsletter of the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP is now available on line and in paper formats.

Inside this Issue:

• Six Students Named as LCC CRSP Fellows
• Nepal Stakeholder Consultation
• RICs: Collaboration for Innovation
• Partner Profile: Corinna Riginos
• U.S. Universities Shape FTF Research Strategy

Past issues of Chronicles are located in our newsletter archive.

Mekonnen Adnwe Degefu, Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), “ Impacts of climate change on water resources and the implications for adaptation practices in the Omo-Ghibe Basin, Southwest Ethiopia.”

For his dissertation, Mekonnen will analyze rainfall trends. He is interested in the implications of variable rainfall on water resources. Ultimaltly, he would like to provide better, more reliable weather forcasting to help pastoralists adapt.

Mekonnen was born in Ethiopia’s Shirka district and was raised by his grandparents, farmers who raised both crops and livestock. For his LCC CRSP Fellowship, Mekonnen will research the impacts of climate variability and change on the hydrology of the Omo-Ghibe River basin with the goal of understanding the impacts of water stress on pastoral communities and how these communities adapt to water stress. This topic was particularly important to Mekonnen because, he contends, “Climate change has now become a major environmental challenge in Africa. Ethiopia, in particular, is frequently affected by drought, and recently by floods. This problem is growing, particularly in the pastoral areas of the south Omo which is marginalized in all social, political, and economic aspects. Despite this, there is not much known regarding the impact of climate change and adaptation practices in the region.” After completing his degree, Mekonnen wants to pass on this knowledge as a university professor, “It is my plan to share this knowledge on climate change and adaptation research with students and other interested groups.”

Melaku Berhe Redda, Mekelle University (Ethiopia), “The impact of livestock adaptation to climate change on the incomes of cattle producers in the drylands of northern Ethiopia, Tigray.”

Melaju's research will take place in the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia, where he was raised.

Melaku grew up in the small, rural Alaje district of northern Ethiopia. He still has fond memories of school, tending his father’s oxen and cattle, and fetching firewood from the forests. “Still I love the lifestyle of my parents in the rural area, although it lacked infrastructure and other facilities,” he says. Those childhood experiences left a lasting impression, one that has inspired him to pursue a graduate degree. “My father, along with other farmers of the district, put their maximum efforts into keeping their animals alive and productive. Those farmers used different coping mechanisms in response to the dry seasons and drought they continuously faced. Such practices have impressed me to formally investigate all of the indigenous coping methods and to supplement these with modern coping mechanisms.” says Melaku. Melaku will be investigating the links between climate change adaptations and incomes to determine which have the greatest potential for improving the livelihoods of pastoral cattle farmers like his father. Further, he will explore how to improve manure management through adoption of household biogas production technology.

Margaret Syomiti Muteng’e, Egerton University (Kenya), “Introduction and evaluation of fodder-block technology and cactus-Atriplex spp. Alley Cropping System as alternative Feed Resources for Climate Change Adaptation in Dryland regions of Kenya”

Margaret hopes her science can help to better the lives of women in Kenya. "In some communities of Kenya, women are not allowed to under-take any economic activity, and/or even to own a cow!! They are only allowed to keep goats, normally termed as "poor woman's cow". I would like to pursue research addressing commercialization of livestock technologies with regards to women and children," she says.

Margaret’s interest in livestock began during childhood and was inspired by her grandmother, a farmer in Kenya’s Kwale district. “When a hyena killed my grandmother’s fattest goat, she brought all the others into the house to sleep beside her,” Margaret remembers. When she watched her grandfather’s drought-weakened cattle sink in a river from their poor condition, she became determined to become an animal scientist, “to prevent animals from dying,” she explains. Margaret’s goal with her current research is to establish agribusiness enterprises, especially targeting women entrepreneurs that manufacture fodder-blocks and drought-resilient feed resources for sale to rural livestock keepers. Her research will explore expanding the use of underutilized, drought-tolerant fodder crops like cactus and salt bush. Like the smallholders she serves with her research, Syomiti has worked exceedingly hard to achieve her career goals so far. “Professionally, I feel like a conqueror—and nothing shakes me,” says Syomiti, a mother of four who recently graduated with her MSc. “I look at a difficult situation and say, ‘Like Obama, yes I can.’ You have to encourage yourself if you don’t find it elsewhere. I started this career journey, and I’m going to succeed.” Margaret is also a 2010 AWARD Fellow. A project of the CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program, AWARD Fellowships were given to 180 African women scientists to strengthen research and leadership skills in agricultural science, empowering them to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation and food security (www.awardfellowships.org).

Judith Kusimba Chemuliti, University of Nairobi (Kenya), “Ex ante analysis of carbon tree trading as an alternative livelihood means for pastoralists in southwestern rangelands in TransMara district, Kenya.”

Judith's research is motivated "by a desire to assist livestock keepers particularly those living in areas where the effects of environmental degradation and impact of climate change are real threats to livelihoods," she says.

Judith has a master’s degree in veterinary public health and as worked for the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute’s Trypanosomosis Research Centre since 2000. There, her research work has focused on the epidemiology of livestock diseases. “I have studied the epidemiology and interaction of tick-borne diseases and trypanosomosis in southwestern Kenya; examined animal health and production constraints in camels in the Kajiado district where the animals were introduced as a food security tool for Maasai pastoralists, and studied patterns of veterinary drug use in Narok and TransMara districts,” she explains. Judith was raised by her single mother (her father passed away when she was only five), who supported the family, in part, through a small poultry business she ran out of the backyard. “Life was particularly tough when disease outbreaks occurred as we would lose almost all our chickens,” says Judith, “As a child, I always felt there was something I could do to stop the chickens from dying. I would ask mom so many question concerning animals and diseases. This is how my interest in animals and livestock began.” Today, Judith still advises women’s groups in her home village, providing technical advice on livestock production and animal health. For her LCC CRSP Fellowship, Judith plans to investigate the potential for pastoralists to adopt tree planting for carbon trading as an alternative to sustaining livelihoods through livestock production. “The potential benefits of tree planting in the rangelands are enormous and will not only improve farmer incomes through sale of carbon credits, but contribute to the restoration of environmental health of the ecosystem,” says Judith.

Dr. Mark Opiyo Nanyingi, University of Nairobi (Kenya), “Spatial and temporal epidemiological investigation of disease surveillance mechanisms in response to climate change in Kenya”

Mark Nanyingi is one of six new Livestock-Climate Change CRSP International Gradaute Student Fellows. When he's not pursuing his education, Mark enjoys karaoke, traveling, and mountaineering. Here he is pictured on Mount Kenya.

Mark has been a veterinarian since 2004, working in both the field and in the lab with the Wellcome Trust, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and for the Kenyan Veterinary Department. Mark was born and raised on the shores of Lake Victoria in Western Kenya where he helped to tend his grandfather’s cattle, which provided school fees for him and his siblings through the sale of milk. Mark’s childhood inspired in him a keen interest in the impact of climate change on livestock diseases. He plans to document the impact of climate change on livestock reproductive performance and the strategies and adaptations pastoralists are employing to cope with changes in livestock disease patterns. This information will contribute to improvements in livestock breeding and genetics.

The Livestock-Climate Change CRSP has selected four men and two women, all Ph.D. candidates, as the first cohort of International Graduate Student Fellows. The fellows hail from East and West Africa where the LCC CRSP’s work is focused, representing the countries of Kenya and Ethiopia in East Africa, and Mali in West Africa. The International Fellowship in Graduate Research is intended to provide opportunities for graduate education that prepare students for interdisciplinary careers within the vision and objectives of the Livestock Climate-Change CRSP. The Fellowship program will provide three years of support for these students, with annual renewal based on a positive review of progress, continued applicability to the Livestock-Climate Change CRSP research goals, continued funding availability, and a high level of academic performance.

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The Livestock-Climate Change Collaborative Research Support Program (LCC CRSP) at Colorado State University (CSU) has awarded a second fellowship to Colorado State University graduate student Jennifer Higgins who will be conducting research on brucellosis in Mongolia. The fellowship is designed to help prepare graduate students for interdisciplinary international careers.

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Tunsisa Hurisso, a graduate student in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University, proposes to study making phosphorus fertilizer from animal bones.

The Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change Collaborative Research Support Program Colorado State University  has awarded its first fellowship to a Colorado State University graduate student, Tunsisa Hurisso.  The fellowship is designed to help prepare graduate students for interdisciplinary international careers. read more »