Scarcity of quantity and quality feed has been a key constraint to productivity of smallholder crop-livestock systems. Tropical forages include a variety of annual and perennial grasses, herbaceous and dual-purpose legumes, and multipurpose trees and shrubs. They have been promoted in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for increasing livestock productivity and household income through higher quantity and quality of herbage, while contributing to soil improvement and higher food crop yields. For the first time, we quantitatively reviewed 72 experimental studies from across SSA to take stock of geographical distribution and forage technology focus of past research; quantify magnitudes of multidimensional impacts of forage technologies; and present variability in forage agronomy data. Improved forage technologies were classified into four groups: (i) germplasm, (ii) management, (iii) cropping system integration, and (iv) feeding regime. Mean weighted response ratios were calculated from 780 pairs of observations for 13 indicators across the five impact dimensions. Improved forage germplasm had on average 2.6 times higher herbage productivity than local controls, with strongest effect in grasses. Feeding regimes with improved leguminous forages increased milk yield by on average 39%, dry matter intake by 25%, and manure production by 24%. When forage technologies were integrated with food crops, soil loss was almost halved, soil organic carbon increased on average by 10%, and grain and stover yields by 60% and 33%, respectively. This study demonstrates the central role improved forages could play in sustainable intensification of crop-livestock systems in SSA. It highlights the need for multidisciplinary and systems-level approaches and studies to quantify synergies and tradeoffs between impact dimensions. Further research is needed to explain forage agronomic yield variability, unraveling interactions between genotype, on-farm environmental conditions, and management factors. Results from this review can inform development programs, prioritizing technologies proven successful for dissemination and indicating magnitudes of expected impacts.

This report describes and assesses a milk quality assurance innovation, the milk quality tracking and tracing system (MQT&T) and Quality-Based Milk Payment System (QBMPS) project. The project was piloted by Happy Cow Ltd (HC), a medium-scale processor in Nakuru, Kenya, and its milk suppliers. The objective of the pilot project was to offer a proof of concept to track and trace milk quality within a smallholder-dominated supply chain and to develop and implement a payment system based on the quality of raw milk delivered. The assessment adapted the PPPLab Scaling Scan as the main framework to enumerate the various project investments, interventions and achievements and to reflect on the success factors, shortcomings and preconditions required for QBMPS scalability.

Purpose: This article addresses the gap in understanding the performance of emerging private agricultural advisory service (AAS) models in developing country contexts, in relation to their dual objectives of supporting farmer-clients and becoming profitable agribusinesses themselves. Methodology: Multiple case study of Service Providers Enterprises (SPEs), an emerging youth-led agribusiness model offering silage making and other services in the Kenyan dairy sector. Using mixed methods, data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, from eight sampled SPEs, 72 farmers, and key informants across four counties. Findings: The results show SPEs' contribution to some changes in farmers' practices, including improvement in milk production, but with some limitations to optimal technical performance. SPEs' mixed business performance is linked to limited market demand, seasonality, and limited fit of some services offered, highlighting gaps in entrepreneurial and market orientation of such agribusinesses, compounded by a challenging operating environment.Practical implications: This evidence implies enhancing the contribution of such service agri-enterprisesin transforming agri-food systems and offering employment opportunities especially for youthrequires targeted and sustained policy and program support in business incubation, market development, and strengthening the value proposition to farmer-clients. Theoretical implications: The dual perspective on performance expands theoretical perspectives for assessing AAS, especially in relation to commercialization. The emphasis is on the mutuality of substantive demand and economic viability of these services, which is reliant on certain market maturity. Originality: This article is a novel attempt to assess private AAS models from both a technical perspective and regarding their viability as agri-enterprises.

Kenyan dairy sector development overview Emerging opportunities for engaging youth in agri-entrepreneurship The SPE model: Background and evolution Objective and purpose of study 2 Research method and study design 2.1 Study sites 2.2 Data collection 3 Results: Performance of SPEs as service providers 3.1 Characteristics of SPEs and their services 3.1.1 Client base of selected SPEs 7 3.1.2 Characteristics of selected SPEs 8 3.1.3 Type of services provided by SPEs 8 3.2 Farm-level outcomes of using SPE services 3.2.1 Integrating silage in dairy farms 9 3.2.2 Fodder conservation at farm level 11 3.2.3 Benefits of SPEs' silage-making services at farm level 11 3.2.4 Boosting milk production for more income 12 3.3 Impacts of SPE services on other value chain actors 3.3.1 Increased milk collection by DFCSs and processors 13 3.4 Challenges in service delivery facing SPEs 4 Performance of SPEs as agri-enterprises 4.1 Establishment, operation and capacities of SPEs 4.2 Scope of clients served by SPEs 4.2.1 SPE modes of service delivery 17 4.2.2 Marketing approach of SPEs 17 4.2.3 Product development 17 4.3 SPE income generation 4.3.1 Product pricing 18 4.3.2 Monthly gross income 18 4.3.3 SPE investments 20 4.4 Business challenges affecting SPEs 4.5 External factors influencing SPE performance 4.6 Building an SPE support network 5 Discussion and conclusion 5.1 Enabling entry of youth in agribusiness 5.2 Performance of the SPEs as service agri-enterprises 5.3 Complementarity and viability of the SPE model 5.4 SPE propagation and dynamics of entrepreneurship 5.5 SPEs as an inclusive model 5.6 Evolution of the SPE model and some lessons learned 6 Recommendations 6.1 Recommendations for policy makers and development agencies 6.2 Recommendations for DFCSs 6.3 Recommendations for SPEs and private service providers References Annex 1: Key informant (DFCS representative) questionnaire Annex 2: SPE representatives questionnaire Annex 3: Focus group discussion checklist

The 3R Kenya (Resilient, Robust, Reliable-From Aid to Trade) project is a learning initiative supported under the Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) programme of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 3R Kenya seeks to assess evidence and lessons from FNS and other related programmes that support competitive, market-led models in spurring agricultural development. It focuses on the aquaculture, dairy and horticulture sectors. 3R Kenya is executed at a time when the Dutch government's bilateral relations in Kenya are transitioning from a focus on Aid to a focus on Trade to enhance the development of agri-food sectors. Through evidence generation and stakeholder dialogue, 3R seeks to contribute to an understanding of effective conditions for sustainable inclusive trade for transforming agri-food sectors to be resilient, robust and reliable. 3Rs: Resilient: dynamic and adaptive capacities that enable agents and systems to adequately respond to changing circumstances Robust: systematic interactions between agents that enable them to adjust to uncertainties within the boundaries of their initial configuration Reliable: the ability of a system or component to perform its functions under changing conditions for a specified period of time, to create opportunities for (inter)national trade.