Improving smallholder dairy farming in Africa

J. M. K. Ojango, R. Mrode, A. M. Okeyo, J. E. O. Rege, M. G. G. Chagunda, D. R. Kugonza

• Publisher: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781838791568
• Topic: Tecnología e ingeniería
• Subtopic: Agricultura sostenible

An estimated 80% of the milk produced in Africa is from smallholder farming systems where producers rear less than 10 head of cattle on land sizes that vary from 0.2 to 4 hectares. Smallholder farmers rear a wide variety of genotypes in a variety of mixed crop and livestock systems, reflecting the husbandry and management knowhow of farmers. Cattle feed resources, water, animal health, animal handling, breeding management and socio-economic factors limit productivity. Most countries in Africa rely on genetic improvement technologies realized in more developed countries, yet they lack national programmes geared to improve breeding and production efficiency. In addition to presenting a broad overview of the existing smallholder dairy production systems and management practices in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this chapter highlights key challenges and opportunities in the systems, presents possible intervention options for sustainable change and the key regional organizations catalysing change in practices within existing systems.

Table of contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Sub-Saharan Africa
• 3 Management practices in smallholder dairy systems
• 4 Improving dairy production via breeding under smallholder systems
• 5 Improving productivity in smallholder dairy systems
• 6 Key organizations supporting smallholders
• 7 Future trends
• 8 Where to look for further information
• 9 Acknowledgements
• 10 References