Sustainable intensification of fodder crop production can mitigate feed shortage and seasonality in East Africa

Abstract

The growing demand for livestock products from growing populations and economies will require additional forage to meet livestock feed requirements. Employing a novel, globally applicable seasonal demand and supply assessment methodology, we investigate the seasonal availability of fodder for ruminants and the potential for growing fodder crops to mitigate current and future demand shortfalls while preserving key conservation and wetland areas in East Africa. Our results indicate that grazing, which respects land for environmental conservation, will not provide sufficient fodder to meet demand throughout the year in many areas. Fodder crops from improved pastures, some conserved as hay, and new crops such as dual-purpose sorghum for food and feed production have a significant potential to provide fodder biomass, especially for maintaining sufficient fodder in the dry season. Forage production in East Africa needs to be intensified in a sustainable way while carrying capacity and stocking rates must be closely monitored.