The predicted livestock revolution will be fueled by fodder. Recent projections for meat and milk in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicate that the demand for these commodities will more than double over the next 20 years. By 2020, total production of meat and milk will increase from about 5.4 and 15.8 million tons to 11.0 and 33.5 million tons, respectively. This level of productivity can only be realized through the production of sufficient high quality animal feed and the further development of appropriate integrated farming systems. Although ICRISAT and ILRI (also other centers including CYMMIT and ICRAF) are major role players in their respective fields, the synergy created by cooperation will contribute significantly to the plight of smallholder agriculturalists in the region.

Establish critical R&D needs in the region to facilitate the natural farm diversification process from unsophisticated small-scale subsistence orientated systems to integrated agricultural production systems aiming at commercialization.

The known interaction between crops and livestock will be further analyzed to determine production bottlenecks and the role ICRISAT can play in facilitating livestock production while ensuring household food security. Establishing a functional partnership with (primarily) ILRI, this program will contribute significantly to the objectives of ICRISAT and the CGIAR.