This study was conducted to assess livestock feed sourcing and feeding strategies and their implications on livestock water productivity (LWP) in mixed crop-livestock production systems of the Blue Nile Basin (BNB) in Ethiopian Highlands. Three Woredas (Diga, Jeldu and Fogera) representing diverse agricultural farming systems were considered. One watershed in each Woreda, which is Dapo from Diga, Meja from Jeldu and Mizuwa from Fogera were selected. Each watershed further stratified to different farming systems depending on cropping pattern and landscape positions.

The importance of feed in increasing livestock productivity and benefits from livestock is stressed. Four major feed resources are identified: pastures, common property resources, forests, and fallow lands; planted forages; crop residues; and concentrate and agricultural by-products. There is a scarcity of quantitative, countrywide data on the current contribution of these resources to the actual feed budget, and the likely trends in future. Systematic mapping of fodder resources is required, and seen as an integral part of feed research.

This report is divided into seven sections. The first section deals with biology of Stylosanthes and its importance in West Africa and Latin America. The second section presents papers on the screening and evaluation of Stylosanthes germplasm. This includes genetic diversity, genetic resources, species screening, multi-locational testing and evaluation of accessions. The third part discusses the dynamics, nutrient requirements, and pests and diseases of Stylosanthes species. Section four looks at Stylosanthes-based pastures for livestock production.

The Livelihood Resilience project evolved around the hypothesis that better integrated

management can improve the livelihoods of poor farming communities and increase the

environmental integrity and water productivity of upstream watersheds in dry areas. This

hypothesis was tested by researchers from different Iranian research and executive organizations

and farming communities in two benchmark research watersheds in upper Karkheh River Basin in

Iran, under the guidance of the ICARDA scientists. Participatory technology development, water,

Climate change is a hazard to the food security of a growing world population since it affects agriculture and likewise, agriculture and natural resource management affect the climate system. The relationships between all these factors including polices, political conditions, economical management and pest and diseases, and how they interact are not currently well-understood, nor are the advantages and disadvantages of different responses to climate change.