Mining & Trade News

Malawi Milk Producers Association (MMPA), which is a mother body for dairy farmers and manufacturers of dairy products in the country, says there is a serious need for local farmers to embrace dairy farming which has the potential to improve their economic status.
MMPA Director Herbert Chagona said in an interview that the local dairy industry is hugely affected by the decrease in the number of dairy farmers.
Chagona explained that there are only about 1000 large scale dairy farmers in the country, the number he said is inadequate to produce sufficient volumes of milk to meet demand for local dairy processors.
He said his association is currently sensitizing farmers to realize the importance of embracing the industry so that there is an increase in the number commercial dairy farmers to satisfy local demand for dairy products and save foreign exchange through import substitution.
Chagona said, among other interventions, the organization has been importing highly productive bulls which are distributed to cattle farmer associations for cross breeding in order to increase milk production.
He also said they have been importing dairy goats to provide supplementary milk.
Chagona also said scarcity of grazing land is contributing to farmers’ reluctance to keep dairy cattle.
He, therefore, said his association is conducting a continuous training programme for farmers to establish their own pasture lands.
“There are several factors contributing to farmers’ loss of interest to venture into dairy farming, the major reasons being lack of government’s interest to develop the sector and scarcity of grazing land in most parts of the country,” he said.
While complaining that Malawi has the lowest milk consumption rate in Africa, Chagona said, consumption rate can improve if there are more dairy farmers and cattle in the country.
He also urged Malawians to change their attitude towards milk consumption saying some perceive it as a luxury.
World Health Organization recommends that a person should take at 100 litres of milk per year. But according to Chagona the highest milk consumer in the country takes only eight litres of milk per year which he described as pathetic.
“We can also encourage farmers to keep dairy cattle through advising people to consume more dairy products. It is sad that only a few Malawians include milk in their meals,” he said.
He also expressed concern over unavailability of dairy products’ manufacturers in some regions of the country saying it unfortunate that Northern Region which has the highest number of cattle in the country does not have any dairy manufacturing company to provide a reliable milk market to farmers.
He, therefore, revealed that his association is currently negotiating with some companies to establish their branches in the region.
The Association has also urged dairy farmers in the country to sell their milk at Milk Bulking Groups (MBG) where they can be offered better prices for their products.
Edwin Chigundo, Marketing Manager for Lilongwe Dairy 2001 Limited concurred with Chagona saying there is great need to encourage farmers to take dairy farming seriously.
He explained that the organization’s production is usually limited due to milk supplies which are usually low and fluctuative.
“There have been complaints that prices of most of our products are high, but the cause for that is insufficient milk supplies. High prices on dairy products can be avoided if farmers are encouraged to embrace dairy farming which may consequently lead to increased production and then reduced commodity prices,” said Chigundo.

Leave a Comment

Comments