Reinforcing participation of women in dairy production and marketing in Tanzania

Irish Ai

Types, levels and causes of post-harvest milk and dairy losses in sub-Saharan Africa and the Near East: Phase one synthesis report

The following report synthesizes and highlights the types, causes and levels of postharvest milk and dairy product losses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Tanzania and Uganda, based on national study documents submitted by consultants from the respective countries. The dairy industry strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in each country are also discussed. Based on these, recommendations on the next steps have been suggested

Types, levels and causes of post-harvest milk and dairy losses in sub-Saharan Africa and the Near East: Phase two synthesis report

The following is a synthesis report highlighting the results of rapid appraisals aimed at characterizing post-harvest milk and dairy losses in Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Tanzania and Uganda. In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the rapid appraisals were undertaken during the dry month of July 2003, when milk yields were relatively low in the region1. Post-harvest milk losses have been quantified both in terms of quantity and monetary value lost. Specific links in the milk chain where significant losses are experienced, and those losses that have pragmatic solutions have been identified and targeted for appropriate interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the losses. Key findings showed that most post-harvest milk losses are experienced in the small-scale informal dairy sector; formal milk processors generally incur minimal losses. In terms of quantity, significant milk losses occur at the farm level (8.4, 28.6, 46.4 and 54.2 million litres of milk per year for Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya, respectively) valued at approximately 0.9–11 million US dollars. Post-harvest losses of milk at the farm represented 1.3 to 6.4 percent of the value of available milk at the farm level. Poor road infrastructure and inadequate markets for raw milk are the main causes of farm-level losses, which are largely in form of spoilage, spillage, and “forced home consumption” (including by calves and humans) over and above normal household consumption. Although in quantity terms forced losses may seem to be high, in value terms they are less significant, because an estimated 70% of the value of the milk is still captured. Along the marketing chain, milk loss is mainly due to spillage and spoilage. These losses are occasioned by poor access to markets, poor milk handling practices as well as irregular power supply in milk processing plants. Based on the dry season rapid appraisal data, the total value of post-harvest milk losses per year amounted 9.9, 14.2, 17.8 and 23.9 million US dollars for Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, respectively. Recommendations for interventions aimed at reducing milk losses have been targeted at the farm level and small-scale milk transporters. These are the two points in the chain where losses in value were found to be most significant. Four general areas of intervention are discussed: training, technology, policy/legislation and information. This report represents the first systematic attempt to accurately quantify postharvest milk losses in the countries studied. However, because of the small sample sizes, limited geographical coverage and the fact that the rapid appraisals were undertaken during the dry season only, the results obtained must be interpreted with caution, bearing in mind the limited scope of the study. Additionally, some of the data provided was not up to the standard required to make a complete valuation. Further comprehensive studies covering a wider scope are needed as a follow-up to the rapid appraisals in order to generate additional data on the levels of post-harvest milk and dairy losses at the national level and across seasons. Nevertheless, the information generated provides a useful basis for implementing the recommended interventions

Livestock disease challenges and gaps in delivery of animal health services

The East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project is a regional industry development program implemented by a consortium of partners led by Heifer International. It is currently being piloted in 18 sites in Kenya, 8 in Rwanda and 27 in Uganda. The overall goal of the project is to transform the lives of 179,000 families, or about 1 million people, by doubling household dairy income in 10 years through integrated interventions in dairy production, market access and knowledge application. This brief highlights key results of a baseline survey that was carried out with the objective of assessing the gaps in delivery of animal health services in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Specifically, the survey assessed the main animal health problems; preventive and curative measures used to control animal diseases; livestock farmers’ access to veterinary and livestock extension services; and the cost of veterinary and livestock extension services. Details are available in the baseline survey report No.