trends in malawian smallholder dairy farming€¦ · steven thomson scotland’s rural college west...

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Leading the way in Agriculture and Rural Research, Education and Consulting SRUC is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC003712 www.sruc.ac.uk www.sruc.ac.uk Trends in Malawian Smallholder Dairy Farming Introduction Findings (continued) Acknowledgements This research is part of the DFID-ESRC project “Assessing the Contribution of the Dairy Sector to Economic Growth and Food Security in Malawi” (ES/J009202/1). Thanks to Patricia Patricia Mayuni, Chief Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer, Blantyre Agricultural Development Division for providing disaggregated, district level, data for Blantyre ADD. Steven Thomson Scotland’s Rural College West Mains Road Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland Email: [email protected] There has been considerable interest and growth in smallholder dairy farming in Malawi in recent times. There is, however, significant difference in the relative importance of smallholder dairy farming across Malawi’s eight Agricultural Development Divisions, with Blantyre (BLADD), Lilongwe (LADD), Kasungu (KADD) and Mzuzu (MZADD) being most important. The Malawi Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Production Estimates provided us with secondary data that helps to highlight the very regional dimension of dairy farming within Malawi and developments since 2008/09. Between 2008/09 and 2012/13 Malawi’s dairy herd grew by over 65%. This remarkable growth has been achieved through (a) the donation of animals through, and support for breeding centers by, international Aid Programmes, and (b) through natural breeding cycles and the retention of heifers (and growth in dairy farmers through “pass-on” initiatives). The 78% growth in purebred dairy cattle (Fresians, Holsteins and Jerseys) across the country was heavily influenced by the change in BLADD (106%) but more so by the regions covered by the Central Region Milk Producers Association, namely LLADD (176%) and KADD (177%). The crossbred dairy herd also continued to rise rapidly (57% over the period), again most notably in LLADD (83%) and KADD (68%) with BLADD and MZADD both having 57% growth. www.sruc.ac.uk BLADD is the most important dairy region accounting for 68% of Malawi’s dairy cattle in 2013. Within BLADD the districts of Thyolo and Chiadzulu are strategically important, collectively accounting for 47% of Malawi’s dairy cattle. LLADD is the second most important region having grown in importance between 2008/09 and 2013 (from 8.4% to 11% of the national herd) whilst MZADD has fallen to the third most important region (from 9.4% to 7.8%). Average milk yields are lower in BLADD compared, in particular to KADD and LADD but this is simply a reflection of the relative proportion of purebred to crossbred dairy cattle present, and reflects Aid programme investments within the central region focusing on purebred animals. Rollins Chitika and Mizeck Chagunda discuss the merits of crossbreeding native Zebu cattle with Holsteins with a farmer at World Milk Day, Blantyre 1 st June 2013. (Photo: S. Thomson) Illustration of differences in semen prices to farmers for locally produced semen and imported semen (June 2013) advertised in MBGs by Shire Highlands Milk Producers Association. (Photo: S. Thomson) Findings Farmer transporting feed by bicycle near Thuchira MBG. Dairy cattle housed in ‘up-market’ khola at Chisomo MBG. Photos: S Thomson Heifers grazing at Thuchila dairy breeding centre. (which is closing).

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Page 1: Trends in Malawian Smallholder Dairy Farming€¦ · Steven Thomson Scotland’s Rural College West Mains Road Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland Email: Steven.Thomson@sruc.ac.uk There

Leading the way in Agriculture and Rural Research, Education and Consulting SRUC is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC003712

www.sruc.ac.ukwww.sruc.ac.uk

Trends in Malawian Smallholder Dairy Farming

Introduction Findings (continued)

Acknowledgements

This research is part of the DFID-ESRC project “Assessing the Contribution of the Dairy Sector to EconomicGrowth and Food Security in Malawi” (ES/J009202/1).

Thanks to Patricia Patricia Mayuni, Chief Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer, BlantyreAgricultural Development Division for providing disaggregated, district level, data for Blantyre ADD.

Steven ThomsonScotland’s Rural CollegeWest Mains RoadEdinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland Email: [email protected]

There has been considerable interest and growth in smallholder dairy farming in Malawi in recent times.There is, however, significant difference in the relative importance of smallholder dairy farming acrossMalawi’s eight Agricultural Development Divisions, with Blantyre (BLADD), Lilongwe (LADD), Kasungu(KADD) and Mzuzu (MZADD) being most important.

The Malawi Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Production Estimates provided us with secondary datathat helps to highlight the very regional dimension of dairy farming within Malawi and developments since2008/09.

Between 2008/09 and 2012/13 Malawi’s dairy herd grew by over 65%. This remarkable growth has beenachieved through (a) the donation of animals through, and support for breeding centers by, international AidProgrammes, and (b) through natural breeding cycles and the retention of heifers (and growth in dairyfarmers through “pass-on” initiatives).

The 78% growth in purebred dairy cattle (Fresians, Holsteins and Jerseys) across the country was heavilyinfluenced by the change in BLADD (106%) but more so by the regions covered by the Central Region MilkProducers Association, namely LLADD (176%) and KADD (177%). The crossbred dairy herd alsocontinued to rise rapidly (57% over the period), again most notably in LLADD (83%) and KADD (68%) withBLADD and MZADD both having 57% growth.

www.sruc.ac.uk

BLADD is the most important dairyregion accounting for 68% of Malawi’sdairy cattle in 2013. Within BLADDthe districts of Thyolo and Chiadzuluare strategically important, collectivelyaccounting for 47% of Malawi’s dairycattle. LLADD is the second mostimportant region having grown inimportance between 2008/09 and2013 (from 8.4% to 11% of thenational herd) whilst MZADD hasfallen to the third most importantregion (from 9.4% to 7.8%).

Average milk yields are lower inBLADD compared, in particular toKADD and LADD but this is simply areflection of the relative proportion ofpurebred to crossbred dairy cattlepresent, and reflects Aid programmeinvestments within the central regionfocusing on purebred animals.

Rollins Chitika and Mizeck

Chagunda discuss the merits of

crossbreeding native Zebu cattle

with Holsteins with a farmer at

World Milk Day, Blantyre 1st June

2013. (Photo: S. Thomson)

Illustration of differences in semen

prices to farmers for locally produced

semen and imported semen (June

2013) advertised in MBGs by Shire

Highlands Milk Producers

Association. (Photo: S. Thomson)

Findings

Farmer transporting feed by bicycle

near Thuchira MBG.Dairy cattle housed in ‘up-market’ khola at

Chisomo MBG. Photos: S Thomson

Heifers grazing at Thuchila dairy

breeding centre. (which is closing).