Establishing protein banks to promote sustainable livestock production in El Salvador

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With the project "Support for the Formulation of Appropriate Mitigation Actions in Central American Agriculture", the EUROCLIMA+ Programme, financed by the

European Union, promotes actions on pilot low-carbon livestock farms.

July 25, 2020, La Libertad, El Salvador. The establishment of protein banks for fodder in two pilot cattle farms was initiated by the project "Support for the formulation of Appropriate Mitigation Actions in Central American Agriculture".

The incorporation of the legume species Cratylia argentea into grass mixtures reduces the use of concentrate for cattle. The practice reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a priority action in low-carbon resilient agriculture in El Salvador.

According to previously structured farm plans, the first fodder bank is located in the Livestock Development Centre (CEGA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), in the eastern department of Morazán. The participation of the agricultural institution as a partner in the project makes it possible to designate a specific area to carry out agroforestry activities. The second bank is in Chalatenango, in the northern part of the country, on a medium-scale livestock farm.

Based on the best practices in Climate-Adapted Sustainable Agriculture (CASA), the mixture of cut grass, in a proportion of 70%, and an aggregate of 30% of the aforementioned legume provides a combination of energy and protein for feeding cattle. The application of this proportion generates savings of 50% in the production costs of milk and meat on the farms.

Follow-up visits and field demonstrations will be scheduled at the sites where the protein banks have been established. In Morazán, a group of non-technical livestock farmers will receive special advising to develop new practices with the introduction of the legume.

The entire effort of this regional project, implemented in Panama and El Salvador, in rice crops and livestock production, respectively, is part of the Programme's Resilient Food Production component.

About EUROCLIMA+

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme financed by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, in particular for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Agency for Development (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH and UN Environment.

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