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Dairy Goat Pass-on Project in Thyolo, Malawi: exploratory trip
In July/August 2009, Dr. Anne Drew will be traveling to Uganda with Dr. Claire Card to observe the structure of the goat pass-on project that VWB/VSF supports. She will then travel to Malawi to meet with potential local partners (ie. Shire Highlands Milk Producers Association) to explore the potential for developing a similar project in the region.
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries, with widespread incidence of poor nutrition, especially of children. High protein foods are expensive and often unavailable to the poorest families. Prevalence of HIV is above 14% of persons over 15, and in the Thyolo region probably closer to 30%. Many families are now headed by women and/or caring for AIDS orphans, thus increasing their financial and labour burdens and decreasing the opportunities for all children to receive schooling.
Dairy production is a relatively lucrative form of smallholder farming in the region, but the poorest families do not have the resources to adequately care for cows. For this reason the Shire Highlands Milk Producers Association in 2004 initiated a pilot dairy goat pass-on project modelled on its successful Mkakazi (heifer loan) project. The project has been slow to grow due in part to lack of follow-up by SHMPA personnel who are occupied with their support of dairy cow farmers. During 2007-2008 when Dr. and Mr. Drew volunteered in Malawi and spent a portion of their time with the project, the number of participant farmers more than doubled, and interest was expressed by another village in joining the project.
Goats are familiar to smallholder farmers, are readily maintained on available forages with small amounts of supplemental feeds, and are manageable by women and children. Their manure is relatively light and dry, is easily incorporated into soils, and is higher in fertilizer value than cow manure, thus lending itself to improving crop production and minimizing any negative impact on the farm environment.
Marketing activities are seen as an integral part of the project. Although the family consumption of milk is of great benefit to food security and especially to the nutritional status of children, the primary goal of livestock rearing activities for farmers is income generation for the family. Improved goats require some inputs demanding cash expenditure, however small, and income must be generated if they are not to be an added burden on the family finances. Increased income generation benefits the family in many ways, including food security, access to schooling and access to health care.
Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries, with widespread incidence of poor nutrition, especially of children. High protein foods are expensive and often unavailable to the poorest families. Prevalence of HIV is above 14% of persons over 15, and in the Thyolo region probably closer to 30%. Many families are now headed by women and/or caring for AIDS orphans, thus increasing their financial and labour burdens and decreasing the opportunities for all children to receive schooling.
Dairy production is a relatively lucrative form of smallholder farming in the region, but the poorest families do not have the resources to adequately care for cows. For this reason the Shire Highlands Milk Producers Association in 2004 initiated a pilot dairy goat pass-on project modelled on its successful Mkakazi (heifer loan) project. The project has been slow to grow due in part to lack of follow-up by SHMPA personnel who are occupied with their support of dairy cow farmers. During 2007-2008 when Dr. and Mr. Drew volunteered in Malawi and spent a portion of their time with the project, the number of participant farmers more than doubled, and interest was expressed by another village in joining the project.
Goats are familiar to smallholder farmers, are readily maintained on available forages with small amounts of supplemental feeds, and are manageable by women and children. Their manure is relatively light and dry, is easily incorporated into soils, and is higher in fertilizer value than cow manure, thus lending itself to improving crop production and minimizing any negative impact on the farm environment.
Marketing activities are seen as an integral part of the project. Although the family consumption of milk is of great benefit to food security and especially to the nutritional status of children, the primary goal of livestock rearing activities for farmers is income generation for the family. Improved goats require some inputs demanding cash expenditure, however small, and income must be generated if they are not to be an added burden on the family finances. Increased income generation benefits the family in many ways, including food security, access to schooling and access to health care.
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