Training

No training activities were supported with SR-CRSP funding. The University of Missouri, along with a scholarship from Winrock International supports the doctoral studies of Ms. Dekha Sheikh, co-investigator from KARI, who actively participates in the animal health research in the U.S. Her doctoral program started in January of 1995, she has completed successfully her qualifying exams. She remains a KARI employee and is co-investigator in our project. Her research focuses on methodologies for returns to research evaluation of CCPP and estimation models for demand of health services. She has also collaborated in the U.S. with data analysis of the Bolivia SR-CRSP project.

Other Contributions

Environmental: Research on animal health is targeted at improving the productivity and feed use efficiency of small ruminants.

Agricultural Sustainability: Loss of efficiency resulting from animal health problems is high, and prevention can reduce mortality and morbidity that result in economic losses. To contribute to sustainable livestock production systems, animal health is a necessary condition.

Contributions to U.S. Agriculture: research experience in interdisciplinary research is crucial to sustainable production systems design in the U.S.

Contributions to host country: Animal health delivery systems are being transformed in Kenya, result of reforms and privatization. The present studies contribute to an understanding of how currently animal health services are delivered and the economic impact of diseases on the flocks of livestock producers in semi arid and arid environments. Collaborative research with KARI scientists strengthens both U.S. and Kenyan research institutions.

Linkages: This are being established with NGOs such as Heifer Project International. Linkages with Kenyan Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute and the Veterinary Field Services Offices have been established to provide information useful to institutions dealing directly with the producers.

Gender analysis: our household level analysis always incorporates gender questions regarding decision makers and, when possible, identifies income domains by gender.

Collaboration: The Sociology project bases its research in collaboration between Kenyan and U.S. scientists, and the component has a multidiciplianry approach. Collaboration with KEVEVAPI members and with veterinarians in the field have been part of our approach to research.

Support for free markets and broad based economic growth: increasing net in kind and cash income, through efficiency in production, contributes to the welfare of families and enables them to accumulate and diversify to other economic activities, facilitating the development of demand, crucial in economic development.

Contribution and compliance with mission objectives: private sector development is being emphasized by the USAID Kenya Mission. Our research is looking into privatization and community organizations, as well as safety-net mechanisms that will allow producer participation in markets.

Concern for individuals: The focus is on peasant household families, and the purpose is to increase their welfare. Some current practices of treating animals directly by the producers may have impact on family members if knowledge about the antibiotics is not known and products are consumed from treated animals. We are researching the knowledge of farmers regarding appropriate handling of antibiotics.

Support for democracy: improving the economic and nutritional well being of families through increases efficiency.

Collaborating Personnel

United States:

Corinne Valdivia, Principal Investigator, University of Missouri-Columbia

Michael F. Nolan, Principal Investigator, University of Missouri-Columbia

Dekha Sheikh, Collaborating Scientist, Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute

Domingo Martínez-Castilla, Research Associate, University of Missouri- Columbia

Grace Njeru, Collaborating Scientist, Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute

Kenya:

Adiel Nkonge Mbabu, Sociology Resident Scientist University of Missouri-Columbia

Willie Njoroge, Research Associate, SR-CRSP

Jane Wachira, Production Manager, Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute KEVEVAPI

Lutta Muhammad, Socio-economics Co-Investigator, Katumani KARI

Patrick Shompole, Resident Scientist, Animal Health, SR-CRSP

Paul Rwambo, Resident Scientist Animal Health SR-CRSP

Host Country

Lead Collaborating Scientist: A. N. Mbabu

Collaborating Institution

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
P.O. Box 57811
Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: 254-2-630800
Fax: 254-2-630818

In the U.S. : Washington State University

Publications

McCorkle, C. M. And Mathias, E. 1995. Paraveterinary Healthcare Programs: A Global Overview. Livestock Production& Diseases. Proc. 8th Conf. Inst. Trop. Vet. Med. Berlin Germany.

McCorkle C.M. and Bazalar, H. 1996. Field Trials in Ethnoveterinary R&D: Lessons from the Andes.

McCorkle, C. M., Mathias, E. and Shillhorn van Veen, T.W. (Eds). 1996. Ethnoveterinary Research and Development. IT Studies in Indigenous Knowledge and Development.

Njoroge, W., Valdivia C., Wachira, J. and Mbabu, A. 1996. An Economic Analysis of the Production of CCPP Vaccine. Kenya SR-CRSP Technical report Series. TR-MU-96-3.

Comments

Activities in Animal Health Research at the user level started this year. This research is on going and the main focus of activities in 1996-1997 as 180 household producers will be interviewed to study the health delivery services available in semiarid and arid regions of Kenya. Resources from the National Agricultural Research Project KARI will fund activities in the Kitui site.

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