Genetic Enhancement of Sorghum and Millet Residues Fed to Ruminants

An ex ante assessment of returns to research
ILRI Impact Assessment Series 3

Table of Contents

P.M. Kristjanson¹ and E. Zerbini²
With contributions from:
K.P.C. Rao,³ V. Kiresur⁴ and P. Hofs⁵  

1. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P. O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya
2. ILRI South Asia Project at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, 502 324, AP, India
3. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Hyderabad, 500030, India
4. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, ICAR, Hyderabad, 500030, India
5. Banjara Hills Consults, Hyderabad, 500034, India

ISBN 92–9146–053–2

Correct citation: Kristjanson P. M. and Zerbini E. 1999. Genetic Enhancement of Sorghum and Millet Residues Fed to Ruminants. An ex ante assessment of returns to research. ILRI Impact Assessment Series 3. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya. 52 pp.

Cover drawing by Wessene Abay.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Executive summary

1 Background

2 The research challenge: Genetic improvement of sorghum and millet crop residues

• Introduction
• Research constraints and opportunities

3 Use of GIS and surveys to identify the recommendation domain

• Introduction
• Use of secondary data and GIS to identify a recommendation domain
• Characterisation and division of the recommendation domain
• Use of primary data to identify herd composition and feed use patterns

4 Measuring the potential productivity gains: How much impact?

• Approach:  Feed–animal performance model description
• Feed model results

5 Using the economic surplus model to measure potential returns to the research investment

• The model
• Assessing the returns to genetic improvement in dual-purpose millet and sorghum research
• Data and assumptions used in the economic model

6 Summary and conclusions

• Other potential benefits
• References
• Appendix A. Proposed ILRI/ICRISAT/NARS Research Project on Genetic Improvement of Millet and Sorghum Crop Residues
• Appendix B. Proposed ILRI/ICRISAT/NARS Research Project on Genetic Improvement of Millet and Sorghum Crop Residues
• Appendix C. Results of feed–animal performance model
• Appendix D. Acronyms and abbreviations

Acknowledgements

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the authors of this report gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Swiss Organization for Development and Cooperation of the Government of Switzerland in jointly (with ILRI and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT) supporting this study. Special thanks are due to Felix Bachmann, Intercooperation (IC) representative in India, to Herman Mulder (IC, Bern) and to the Indo-Swiss Project, Andhra Pradesh (ISPA).  Our deepest gratitude goes to the sorghum and millet breeders of ICRISAT and of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) who participated in the interviews.  During the farm-level survey in the selected districts we received assistance from many individuals. In this context, particular recognition is given to district personnel of the Animal Husbandry Department, to village surpanch (village heads) and farmers in the districts visited. We would like to thank Dr T.G. Kelley at ICRISAT for sharing data from the ICAR/ICRISAT 13-state district database. We appreciate the many hours spent by K.V. Ravindra in helping define the recommendation domain, and along with the GIS unit of ICRISAT, in printing out the original maps. Thanks to P. de Leeuw and R. Kruska at ILRI for helpful comments on the draft report and revision of the maps. We are also grateful to Dr A. Hall for sharing relevant information for the farm survey, and for constructive feedback during the preparation of this report. Finally, the authors would like to thank all institutions and organisations that have responded to our request for statistical data on livestock feeds and feeding in India.