Dairy production and related environmental issues in Tanzania

Robert Otsyina and D.G. Mlay

CLEANED Project East Africa Stakeholder Consultation on Dairy and Environment Nairobi, Kenya, 18 September 2013

Presentation OutlineIntroduction

Recent trends in livestock/dairy development

Demand and supply situationDairy production systems

Intensive and extensiveCurrent interventions

Impacts on the environmentKey drivers/Challenges

Conclusion

Introduction With about 22.8 million cattle, Tanzania is the third

country in Africa (after Ethiopia and Sudan) in terms of size of livestock population.

The dairy industry is one of the most important agricultural subsectors in Tanzania.

Several farm families depend on livestock and dairy production for their livelihoods.

Consumption for milk is expected to increase in Tanzania from the current per capita consumption of 45 liters per year to about 100 liters/capita/yr by 2020.

The Government is putting a lot of emphasis and efforts on dairy development in the country.

MILK PRODUCTION SITUATIONTotal milk production 2012/13 reported

to 1.92 billion litres. Total number of cattle 22.8 million

(2012/13)Number of improved Dairy cattle was

about 720,000 (2011/12) kept by about 130,000 HH and produce 30% of total milk

70% of total milk produced comes from local cattle kept by an estimated 1.6 million HH

2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12Year

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

1,800,000

2,000,000

Indig CowsImproved cowsTotal

Milk production trends

MILK CONSUMPTIONPer capita milk consumption 45.0

lts/annum(2012/13)Recommended level is 200 lts per head

per annum.Current analysis show that demand is

far beyond the supply. Initiatives to improve human nutrition

will further increase demand and subsequent increases in livestock population.

Dairy Production systems Extensive,

traditional cattle systems- Low input-low

output systemDisplacement of

cattle from one place to the other in search for fodder

Intensive smallholder dairyingCut and carry systemSupplementation

Dairy Production SystemsLarge scale

institutional and private commercial farms account for about 25 -30,000 dairy cattle and about 2-5% of milk production

Challenges Seasonal fluctuations in production esp. from

traditional herds.Quantity and quality of feeds especially during the

dry seasons.Overgrazing of communal rangelandsFrequent conflicts between livestock keepers and

farmers Diseases such as tick borne diseases that kill up to

40% of calves if regular spraying /dipping is not done

Long calving intervals due to poor breeding practices

Low milk production density makes milk collection uneconomical and non competitive.

Poor milk processing and handling infrastructure.

Key InterventionsImproving productivity of indigenous cattle

( Breeding programmes), Expansion of the improved dairy herd and

promoting milk consumption.Capacity building among communities to manage

and conserve and communal grazing land and the environment (Participatory rangeland and Forest Management systems ).

Improvement of grazing lands and pastures using multipurpose tress, legumes and grasses in agroforestry systems.

Disease control mechanisms.Policy reforms to secure land ownershipValue chain development

Current trends and environmental issuesGrowth in incomes, population and urbanization

are driving increases in demand for meat and dairy products.

Rapid expansion of livestock numbers in extensive and intensive systems.

Concentration of livestock populations in urban areas

Over-grazing of agricultural and rangelands.Inadequate legal frame work in land ownership.

Most of land used for grazing is owned communally, therefore no incentive to manage grazing lands.

Displacement of cattle into agricultural and forest areas.

Impacts on natural resources and environmentIncreasing overgrazing and environmental

degradation of rangelands, forest ecosystems, pastures and farm lands (Depletion of carbon stocks).

Increasing soil erosion and nutrient losses.Degradation of water systems and sources ( water

catchments).As livestock production systems intensify towards

industrial and feedlot systems, water pollution and manure disposal issues become more serious.

Pollution from livestock/dairy farming affects the atmosphere, surface water and groundwater systems.

Increasing carbon footprints in dairy production and processing.

Increasing effects of climate change on local populations and natural resources.

ConclusionLivestock production and dairy in particular

provide good opportunities for income generation and livelihood improvements in Tanzania.

Demand for dairy products increase with population increases. This will drive increases in livestock populations.

Livestock (dairy) is seen as a key driver of greenhouse gas emissions.

Interventions to address livestock effects on the natural resources and the environment should be given due priority.