Challenges and Opportunities of Smallholder Dairy Production Systems: A Case Study of Selected Districts in Malawi

摘要

LivestockmakeasignificantcontributiontothelivelihoodsofsmallholderfarmersinMalawi.Amongthelivestock,dairycattlehavesignificantlygainedimportanceovertheyearsasevidencedbyanincreaseinfarmerswithinterestinsmallholderdairyproduction.nbsp;GovernmentandNGOshaveputsmallholderdairyingapriorityinlivestockproduction.AbaselinestudywasconductedinKasungu,Mzimba,LilongweandThyoloDistrictstocharacterizethelivestockproductionsystemanddocumentexistingchallengesandopportunitiesforintegratingsmallholderdairying.Resultsshowedthattheproductionsystemisalowinput-lowoutputwithfarmerskeeping2.23±1.56dairyanimals,ofwhich1.31±0.97(~60%)arecows.Theanimalsarebredthroughartificialinsemination(AI)conductedbytrainedAItechnicians.Incomefrommilkwassignificantlyhigher(p0.05)thanotherlivestockproducts.Challengesinthedairysectorincludedlowmilkprices,unreliablemilkcollectionbymilkprocessors,transportproblemsforAItechnicians,lackofAIequipment,andlowcompetencyofAItechnicians.Thechallengeswerefurthercomplicatedbyinadequateknowledgeinanimalhusbandrybylivestockextensionworkerswhohadanaverageperformancescoreof70%.However,farmerAItechnicianshadahigheraveragescore(74%)whichthestudyconsideredassatisfactoryforfarmers.Theresultsshowthepotentialforenhancingsmallholderdairyingandsuggestthattheuseoffarmerstosupportdairyextensionworkcouldbeanopportunitytocomplementextensionworkers.Thiscouldbemoreeffectivewithregularfollowupsandrefreshercoursesinplace.nbsp;