The purpose of the haiti livestock innovation activity entitled système d'innovation EN production animale (sipa) is to increase the long-term productivity and resilience of the livestock sector in…

The University of Florida will receive a $2 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S. Agency for International Development Haiti under the USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas program (CFDA 98.001) to conduct the Systeme d'Innovation en Production Animale activity from May 2023 to May 2028.

The goal of this activity is to increase the long-term productivity and resilience of Haiti's livestock sector, particularly in two resilience focus zones, through improving animal nutrition, developing a long-term strategy to improve the genetic stock of priority animals, and building the academic and research capacity of local universities. The University of Florida will work to achieve research objectives such as disseminating quality genetic stock to improve targeted livestock species, increasing livestock performance through forage and feed interventions, and supporting the dissemination of new research findings. This award will support applied research, technology development, and knowledge sharing to benefit Haiti's agricultural sector and economic growth.

The purpose of the haiti livestock innovation activity entitled système d'innovation EN production animale (sipa) is to increase the long-term productivity and resilience of the livestock sector in haiti, particularly two resilience focus zones (RFZ). One RFZ in the southern region and the other in the north-north-east-central plateau region. The activity will take into consideration the unique production environments, priority animals, potential for improvement, and existing resources. Sipa aims to improve the productivity of livestock in the rfzs by seeking localized solutions for animal nutrition and developing a long-term strategy to improve the genetic stock of priority animals such as goats and cattle. Also, this activity will work in conjunction with the livestock market systems (LMS) activity to inform and complement its work as IT is also focused on increasing the productivity and sales of key livestock from a market systems approach. There will be opportunities to apply and disseminate findings from this research activity through the LMS to individuals and businesses. In addition, this activity will also partner with local partner universities in coordination with the haiti university partnerships (HUP) activity. HUP will build the institutional capacity of local agriculture universities and this activity will partner with them to conduct research, disseminate findings, and potentially establish revenue generating activities in the sector. The project goals will be achieved through the following research objectives: improve the genetic profile of key livestock species (small ruminants, dairy and beef cattle) through breeding and dissemination of quality genetic stock in haiti. Increase the performance of livestock through transformative forage and feed interventions. Build the academic, vocational and research capacity of key local universities and support dissemination of these new research findings.