Maravi

Mudenda advises dairy farmers on co-operation

Mudenda advises dairy farmers on co-operation
Written by George Zulu
Thursday, November 13, 2008 6:14:14 PM

DAIRYSAV project coordinator Mweetwa Mudenda has said lack of organised small-scale dairyfarmer groups in Western Province has led to the collapse of milk production in the province.

During a tour of selected dairy farms in the Southern Province organised by GART and Micro-Bankers Trust, Mudenda said lack of milk production on a commercial basis in Western Province had resulted from the absence of organised farmer groups that focus on cooperatives as a business venture.

Some dairy farmers from Mongu and Senanga were part of the team that visited some dairy farms in Southern Province.

Mudenda said despite people having a lot of dairy animals, they did not take milk production as a source of income and investment by forming cooperatives.

“The only way dairy farmers can benefit from their animals is through milk production and forming of cooperatives which will manage their finances and the provision of technical support on how to increase the production of milk,” he said.

Mudenda expressed hope that the coming on board of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) was an encouragement towards the revival of cooperatives in the province in order economically empower the people of Western Province.

He also expressed hope that the tour of Southern Province by dairy farmers from Mongu and Senanga would bring a different dimension in the manner people in the province view dairy farming at both commercial and subsistence levels.

Mudenda further said DairySav would also offer capacity building in dairy technical skills and expanded access to financial service, adding that this would enable the farmers avoid manipulation in the running of the cooperatives.

Labels: BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT, COOPERATIVES, DAIRY, DAIRYSAV, GART, MWEETA MUDENDA, WESTERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 6:16 PM