Factors influencing smallholder dairy production and marketing performance in Rungwe district, Tanzania.

摘要

A study on the performance of a random sample of 120 smallholder dairy farmers was conducted in Rungwe district, Tanzania. Results showed that dairy cattle were contributing an average of 34% of the household income. Milk production ranged from 6.8-9.8 litres per cow per day (8.1 litres/day). Milk sold per household was an average of 11.5+or-0.9 litres per day. Economic analyses of the farm enterprises showed that farmers' monthly gross margins ranged from Tshs. 2,603-32,270 (US$ 2.2-26.9) per month. Regression analyses showed that net income from dairying and access to credit had significant positive influence on input use (P<0.01). Access to market and active participation had significant (P<0.05) positive impact on amount of commercial feed given to a cow/day and highly significant (P<0.01) influence on amount of milk produced by a cow/day. Major constraints to improved production were high cost of inputs, low milk prices and lack of market for surplus milk. The findings suggest that enhancing ability of smallholder farmers to reach input/output markets and active participation in them are key to increasing adoption of improved dairy technologies.