
Conner Mullally, University of Florida
Co-PI and Collaborator Institutions
Figure: Distance learning is proving to be much more popular than traditional methods for these women in Nepal. Learn more about this project's findings in this 2020 update: MULLALLY VGM.
In Nepal, goats are an essential source of income and animal-source foods and nearly every rural Nepali household owns at least a small quantity of goats. Recently, rising urban incomes have translated into higher demand for goat meat but a poorly functioning value chain and limited access to animal feed have left poor smallholders, most of whom are women, unable to benefit. Specific constraints include lack of year-round access to nutritious feed, scarce extension and veterinary services, and poorly functioning output markets, including weak bargaining power and a lack of communication infrastructure. The objectives of the project are to: (1) Increase feed and forage production through preservation, improved varieties, and access to other forage resources for improved livestock productivity; (2) Increase access to markets of meat goats for smallholders in order to improve household income, nutrition, and food security; and (3) Increase the percentage of female Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) for improved livestock productivity and reduction of animal disease. To address these objectives, the project designs, implements, and rigorously evaluates three interventions to improve goat value chain functionality in rural Nepal. These include:
The communication interventions will be evaluated using a randomized control trial spanning 109 Village Development Committees in 27 districts, including eight in the Feed the Future Zones of Influence (ZOIs).
October 2020 research update MULLALLY VGM (Virtual General Meeting)
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems (click for Home page) is part of Feed the Future
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This work was funded in whole or part by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Food Security under Agreement # AID-OAA-L-15-00003 as part of Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems. Additional funding was received from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed here are those of the authors alone.
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