VAIMS: value adding

The VAIMS (value adding information management system) is a toolkit and a methodology to study value chains or commodity chains in the livestock sector.

It has been developped by a consortium of Centres of Excellence from the SADC region (University of the Free State UFS in South Africa, Univ. of Stellenbosh in South Africa, ILRI (a member of the CGIAR), and NAMC in South Africa).

Value Chain modelling

The toolkit can be used both as a research tool and as a development tool. The package was designed on purpose so that a standard implementation period for a study  do not last more than three month in total (including a basic analysis of data collected). This timeframe allows for capturing the major constraints faced by the chain actors and to discuss  opportunities for development or improvement. By repeating regularly such surveys and analysis, the process allows for setting up a basic monitoring system of the value chain.

The following leaflet provides a summary of characteristics of the toolkit. It contains details to contact the VAIMS focal persons both at the University of the Free State and at SADC HQ (Livestock Officer), in order to get access the full material required for launching a survey (Guidelines and Software).

VAIMS leaflet

Some indicative performances of a Value Chain as captured by the VAIMS methodology are displayed in the following diagram.

Performances VCA

ZAITS Zoning Identification and Traceability

The ZAITS study (Zoning Identification and Traceability Systems) is a contribution to the international and intraregional trade facilitation process. This regional study was launched by PRINT to document a "road map" in view of supporting Member States which wish to invest in Zoning and Traceability Systems.

Background :

Consumption of livestock products as a result of growing incomes since the early 2000’s has resulted in higher prices and lucrative markets in the developed economies of the world. To a large extent these markets are being supplied by countries such as Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay and others. This is in spite of the fact that a number of SADC Member States have the necessary natural resources to improve livestock production and productivity.

Therefore the methodology applied in the ZAITS study shall be used as a mechanism to foster investments in the sector, in view of improving exports of livestock products and live animals.

Evaluation of Quality management in Laboratories

In 2006, PRINT launched a study about the quality management of the veterinary laboratories in the SADC region, in support of the dedicated thematic sub committee of SADC.

This report can be consulted here:

SADC-VLNC-Print N° C0012006

Diagnostic of CBPP (SoP’s)

In 2007, a series of specialized trainings was given to laboratory technicians regarding the various techniques available for the diagnostic of CBPP.

Epidemio-surveillance of CBPP (SoP’s)

In a regional workshop organized by PRINT in September 2007and held in Tanzania, the strategy for controlling CBPP in the SADC region was revisited.

The recommendations and the presentations are available from the Livestock Unit (Senior Programme Officer SPO Livestock) at SADC or through the PRINT CTA

Livestock population and Demographics

The Module 1 of LIMS is about the estimation of a Livestock population in a given area or zone. It provides various ways of breaking down the national flock  composition (four templates in total).

One of the options is to give the figures of the livestock population by age and sex , meaning using a "demographic" structure for a given species. This type of breakdown is often found as an input to demographic models of ruminants populations. Therefore the study aimed at guiding the APVM & GR sub committee and the EIS sub committee when using such data, i.e.  pursuing their own purpose.

We shall thank a few specific Member States (Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia and Malawi) which provided examples of data and methodologies used in their respective countries, to the demographer recruited to analyse the data and make recommendations.

Other data and information sets were provided through PRINT which gathered relevant national documents during the situation analysis of countries.

Rangeland evaluation

Livestock Farming systems in the SADC region are mostly relying on Natural Resources and Rangelands in particular.

The status of pastures is a key issue for sustaining ruminants in the vast dry areas of Southern Africa

There are several remote sensing datasets available at SADC that can be used for rangeland evaluation.

This include e.g. the NOAA AVHRR vegetation index product for the period 1982-2009.

Visit the RRSU webpages and its links under the AIMS portal.

Laboratory information systems

Laboratory information systems or LABwares are important tools to manage laboratories and comply with certification procedures like described in the ISO 17025 standard (cf. the LAB study on quality management in the relevant section of the site). Labwares complement larger information systems which they can interoperate with, and are used at local (laboratory) level as management tools.

In LIMS, results for disease diagnostic are given in the module 10 (disease suspicion and confirmation through notification). The confirmation of field diagnostic (when a sample has been collected) is given by the central veterinary laboratories CVL in each Member State, or for certain diseases by regional and international reference laboratories.

Convergence between the epidemiology and laboratory information chains should be therefore a priority. LABware can play a significant role in this regards.

There are commercial softwares available (generic or specifically developped for some laboratory' sections). There are also some open source softwares (e.g. used for the human health diagnostic sector).

Links are easily found under a google search (type labwares).