CRAFS supports Muliko Livestock Services to Advance Breeding and Feed Innovations

Livestock production continues to play a critical role in improving rural livelihoods in Malawi, particularly through enhanced breeding systems and affordable feeding solutions. 

In this context, with financial and technical support from CRAFS CARP-E grant Muliko Livestock Services in Mzuzu is emerging as an important innovation-driven enterprise advancing practical solutions for farmers in the Northern Region.

During a field visit on 19 June 2026, the Centre for Resilient Agri-Food Systems (CRAFS) at the University of Malawi engaged with Muliko Livestock Services to understand how its interventions are contributing to improved livestock productivity and farmer outcomes.

Led by its Managing Director, Gilbert Banda, the organisation provides a range of livestock improvement services, with a strong focus on artificial insemination (AI) as a pathway to improving herd quality and productivity. 

Access to AI services has significantly improved through the organisation’s efforts, rising from less than 5 per cent in 2021 to over 80 per cent in 2026, reflecting a major shift in service accessibility for farmers in the region.

In addition to breeding services, Muliko Livestock Services is promoting cost-effective livestock nutrition strategies by encouraging the use of locally available feed resources such as maize by-products and rice bran. This approach reduces dependency on expensive commercial feeds while promoting local resource utilisation and import substitution.

The financial support from the CRAFS-CARP-E programme has been instrumental in advancing the organisation’s innovation journey. 

With this support, Muliko Livestock Services has transitioned from the development phase to piloting its solutions directly with farmers, enabling real-world testing and structured feedback collection to refine its products and services. Among its key innovations is the production of cost-effective and nutritionally fortified mineral blocks and dairy concentrate feeds.

The visit highlighted how targeted innovation support can accelerate the translation of ideas into practical, farmer-centred solutions. Through initiatives such as CRAFS-CARP-E, the University of Malawi continues to strengthen linkages between research, innovation, and enterprise development in the agri-food sector.