IFRU participates in many projects in Africa and Asia, most of them through DFID, Higher Education Link Programmes.
Indonesia
One project concerns general resource management with emphasis on feeding of goats in small villages. Funds were found to set up goat projects in a village on a revolving fund principle. Planting leguminous trees for dry season feeding has been the main technical objective for us in collaboration with our Link partners. Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta
Click here for more details about this "Revolving fund" principle.
Indonesia
A new project concerns reforestation of areas of forest cut by illegal logging but reforested in collaboration with local farmers. Farmers can grow complementary crops under forest development eg. leguminous crops or trees. The objective is to identify the best combination including also density of trees. Our Link partners Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.
Indonesia, Lombok Island
Our partners here are Brawijaya University, Malang but the project areas are Lombok and Sambawa Islands. Attempt are made to use more of wasted straw in animal feeding. Funds have been obtained to buy two paddle tractors to reduce time for land preparation and more time to preserve rice straw. Profits from using paddle tractor are used to buy calves to be reared by farmers on a revolving fund basis.
Kenya
Our partners here came from Egerton University near Nakuru salt lake. The project concerns establishment of dairy goats in a small village. Goat milk is much in demand particularly by people suffering from AIDS. Funds have been found to buy dairy goats on a revolving fund basis as for Indonesian projects. Feeds for dry season feeding is the major problem to investigate.
Cameroon
Our Higher Education Link partners come from the University Dshang. The project concerns establishment of goat meat production based on a cut and carry system. Goats were traditionally grazed. This is no longer practicable due to pressure on land crops. Funds have found to buy 50 goats given to farmers on revolving fund basis. Goats are now fed on wasted crop residues and tree leaves. Feeding in dry season is a major problem but solutions are being found.
Vietnam. Hanoi.
Link partners here are from the National Institute for Animal Husbandry. Projects aimed at efficient resource management. Excreta used by biogas, biogas slurry for fertilising fishponds etc. Ducks used in paddy fields instead of herbicides etc.
Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City
Link partners also National Institute for Animal Husbandry. Project is development of small-scale dairy production in peri-urban Ho Chi Minh City. Problems are heat stress and poor feed management. Both problems are attended to in collaboration with small farmers. India. Our partners are ILRI at ICRISAT, Hydrabad. Projects concerns breeding of Sorghum not only high yield or grass but for high yield of high quality sorghum stover.