EASTERN AFRICA REGIONAL

EXPERIENCES IN DAIRY DEVELOPMENT (DV)

A presentation prepared for the 5th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture and the 18th Annual Meeting of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), Addis Ababa, October 25-

28, 2010

Presentation OutlineMilk Production systemsFactors determining Milk Production SystemsExperiences in DV from KenyaExperiences in DV from UgandaExperiences in DV from EthiopiaFAO’s GTFS/RAF/391/ITA project experiences

in dairy developmentIn conclusion

Milk Production Systems

Traditional systems; practised by Pastoralists, Agro Pastoralists, and crop-livestock farmers a trend indicating a declining scale of cattle wealth and thus potential higher milk yields

Large commercial dairy farms; Emerged during colonial times, and were usually owned by white farmers, and operated in a more or less free market system

Smallholder dairy farmers most emerged as African farmers gained access to exotic breeds which were cross bred with indigenous breeds

Traditional SystemsCharacterized by large numbers of low milk

yielding indigenous cattle, usually Zebu (Boran)and Ankole cattle breeds

Such cattle is usually more resistant to diseases and hush whether conditions

Milk and other milk products usually meant for home consumption

Existed from pre-colonial daysStill predominant in most countries in the

region except for Kenya

Boran cattle crossing a river in Kenya

Large Commercial FarmsEmerged during colonial times, and were usually owned by

white farmersCharacterized by exotic breeds (mainly Holstein Friesians)

with high milk yieldsUsually a big number of dairy animals raised on large pieces

of landAfter independence most of these farms were sold to African

farmers and to the governments, performance not goodA lot of dairy activities were centralized and controlled by

governments e.g. milk processingEmergence of dairy farmers cooperatives, not very

successful

Holstein Cross

Smallholder Dairy FarmersEmerged as Africans gained access to exotic

breeds, and even more after liberalization of markets

Characterized by cross-breeds; Holstein Friesians with indigenous breeds

Yields average; in comparison with the pure Friesians and the local breeds

Farmers Operating independently but most reconsidering the old idea of selling milk to cooperatives, informal traders unreliable

Factors determining Dairy Development (DV)

Development of the Infrastructure Access to Market and Credit AccessHousehold level demand for milk productsFavourable government policiesTechnological development; Improved breeds,

improve feeds, dairy processing plantsPrivate sector involvementLiberalization of marketsPromotion of smallholder dairy farmers

Experiences in DV from KenyaKenya initially practiced pastoralism & agro pastoralism like any

other countries in the regionThen saw the introduction of exotic breeds coming in with the

white settlersSmallholder dairy farmers then emerged as African gain access

to exotic breeds with the cross-bred with the indigenous Their numbers and production scaled up with the liberation of

marketsCurrently the small holder farmers produce over 80% of Kenya’s

milkKenya’s per capita availability of milk is said to be 4-7 times

higher than other countries in the regionHowever, according to reports 85% - 90% of the milk is bought

in raw form – not processed or packaged

Reasons for Kenya’s Good Performance

Conducive policy and institutional environment by government o e.g. increased role of the private sector in dairy farming and

promotion of smallholder dairy farmersPresence of significant dairy populations – from white

settler farmersEffective infrastructure for collection of milkCollection organizations to improve access to services and

expand production basesKenya has a sub tropical geography suitable for dairy cattle A number of Kenyan communities have milk as an

important part of their diet, a good indicator for constant demand

Experiences in DV from UgandaPrior to the 1980s, milk production in Uganda occurred

largely in two contrasting production systemsLarge commercial dairy farms located in the wetter parts of

the country on which exotic and cross-bred dairy cattle were kept and grazed on natural pastures.

Then Pastoralists, who kept large numbers of local cattle under traditional management systems in the drier parts of the country

From the mid-1980s zero-grazing systems were introduced, in which high-yielding genetically improved cows (pure or cross-bred with local cattle) are kept in stalls and fed with fodder cut and carried to them daily.

Many smallholder farmers bought exotic dairy cows to upgrade their indigenous cows by cross-breeding

Experiences in DV from Uganda cont…

Some of Uganda’s small farmers adopted strictly zero-grazing practices - intensive

Others combined grazing paddocks with stall feeding, a hybrid dairy production system that came to be known as ‘semi-intensive

With the liberation of the sub-sector in 1993, when the government’s monopoly on milk processing was broken,

Many medium and small-scale private milk processors emerged on the scene

To realize the objectives of its ‘Milk Master Plan’, Uganda in 1998 established a Dairy Development Authority

Semi – Intensive system

Experiences in DV from EthiopiaEthiopia currently manages the largest

livestock population in Africa, with cattle herds numbers estimated at close to 50 million

Ethiopia therefore holds large potential for dairy development due to:o Its large livestock populationo The favorable climate for improved high-

yielding animal breedso And the relatively disease-free environment for

livestock

Experiences in DV from Ethiopia Cont…

Like other sectors of the economy, the dairy sector in Ethiopia has passed through three phases or turning points, following the economic and political policy in the country

The most recent phase is, characterized by the transition towards market-oriented economy, private sector involvement and smallholder promotion: o The phase has seen the dairy sector move towards

a milk takeoff stage – annual milk production rate doubled in the 90s compared to preceding years

Experiences in DV from Ethiopia Cont…

Four major systems of milk production Pastoralism, holds about 30% of livestock Highland Smallholder, predominantly

subsistence mixed farming – produces 97% of the milk

Urban and pre-urban farmers ( have small and medium dairy farms in backyards in and around towns and cities).

Intensive dairy farming, a more specialized dairy farming practised by state sector and very few individuals on commercial basis.

FAO’s GTFS/RAF/391/ITA project experiences in DV

A FOOD SECURITY- CROSS BORDER PROJECT

IMPLEMENTED BY FAO (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS) WITH

THE UGANDAN GOVERNMENT

AND FUNDED BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT

IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION

COVERING: BURUNDI, DRC, RWANDA AND UGANDA

Main interventions: Uganda, Rwanda & BurundiOrganization of Dairy farmers into

cooperatives/associationsLinkage of cooperatives and associations to

markets. Especially the private sector e.g. The cheese factory “Fromagerie Saint

Ferdinand-(FSF)-” in Burundi, and the milk processing plant - Birunga Dairy Corp in Uganda

Facilitation for establishment small plants e.g. a plant for processing of nutritious feeds for

the dairy cattle in Rwanda

Main interventions: Uganda, Rwanda & Burundi Cont…Building the capacity of producers through

trainings in different aspects, and also through study tours

Renovations of existing processing plants and equipping of milk collection centrese.g. the cheese factory in Burundi renovated

and the milk cooler and tanker provided to farmers in Uganda

Improve local breeds and therefore milk production, provide better breeds for crossbreeding - Burundi

Main interventions: Uganda, Rwanda & Burundi Cont…Establishment of a veterinary drug shops,

with the aim of increasing access to inputs by dairy farmersdone with milk traders in Rwanda and Farmers’

Association in UgandaLinkages to Financial Institution for credit

access & other services; Loan for milk truck – Uganda, credit for better

equipment for cheese processing - Burundi

Main interventions: Uganda, Rwanda & Burundi Cont…Cost sharing interventions; in Burundi three milk

collecting centres established, with appropriated equipment and in Uganda a milk transportation truck acquired

Involving the Public and Private sectors: In Uganda formulation and signing of an MoU

facilitated between: The Dairy Farmers’ Association to supply milk to Birunga NAADs (a government agency) for extension services Birunga Dairy Corp as a market for all the milk from the

farmers Rubuguri SACCO for financial services

Results Experienced so FarIncrease of Farm-gate prices; In Uganda the price of

milk has since doubled from UGX 200 to UGX 400The quantity of milk supply to formal markets e.g.

dairy processing plants corp steadily increasing; In Rwanda an increase of milk supply was realized

from 4,500 liters per day in 2007 to 10,000 per day in June 2010.

Quantities of milk to the cheese factory in Burundi also increase form the daily supply of 80 litres at the beginning (2007) to 150 litres today

More farmers picking interest in dairy farming; farmers buying improved breeds

Public & Private institutes like NAADS and Birunga Dairy Corp in Uganda supplying more animals to such organized farmers

Improved & increased bargaining powers for smallholder Dairy Farmers.

Improved quality of milk supplied; processing plants take time to check the milk supplied. In informal markets milk adulteration is not uncommon

Results Experienced so Far

In Conclusion Lessons should be drawn from the superior performance of

Kenya and more:High breed cattle which provided the major source of increased in

productivityThe development of an effective infrastructure for collection of

milkThe milk coops should also be given enough technical and

financial support– market outletsThe private sector should be promoted to engage in dairy

processing and marketing activitiesDairy sector success in Kenya was driven by increases in demand

for dairy products – consumption of milk should be stimulated Improve other agricultural technologiesDevelopment interventions should be aimed at addressing both

technological gaps and marketing problems

THANK YOU