Livestock Research for Rural Development 25 (4) 2013 Guide for preparation of papers LRRD Newsletter

Citation of this paper

Milk production potential, marketing and income opportunities in key traditional cattle keeping areas of Zambia

C Mumba, G S Pandey and C van der Jagt*

University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Disease Control, Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
cmumba@unza.zm   ;   sulemumba@yahoo.com
* Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV Zambia), Box 31771, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to estimate milk production potential and addressing the interventions related to improving production, animal husbandry practices and milk marketing in key traditional cattle keeping areas of Zambia. The emphasis was on collecting information regarding; an estimation of number of cattle owning households, cattle numbers, herd structure, seasonal cattle movements, current milk production volumes, what households do with their current milk, adoption rates of good animal husbandry practices including herd health, veterinary input supply and extension service provision from the key traditional cattle keeping areas. Data used to achieve these objectives was obtained using detailed focus group discussions and interview-based questionnaires from several stakeholders. 

The 15 selected districts had a total population of 1,162,645 traditional cattle, owned by 116,265 households, with an average of 10 cattle per household. Milk production from the these districts was estimated at 57.5 million litres per annum out of which 3.7 million litres go into the formal sector through established milk collection centres. The current monetary value of milk sales in the informal sector is estimated at US$ 12 million per year. However, if all this milk was to be brought into the formal sector, there is a potential of realising a monetary value of US$ 27.6 million per year among the 116,265 rural households within the study areas.  The estimated total volume of milk available which can easily be brought into the formal sector through construction of additional milk collection centres in the identified potential areas is about 11.9 million litres per annum, which is about 27% of the current volume of milk being processed in Zambia. This will result to income generation of about US$ 5.7 million annually among the the rural poor farmers in the 24 recommended sites for milk collection centers in 13 of the 15 selected districts. In addition, mopping of milk from the above sites and its processing will create an additional employment of about 2,400 on-farm jobs among the youths in rural areas. There is need for the processors, government, donors and investors to develop market through establishment of milk collection centers. 

Keywords: employment, income generation, lost milk, traditional cattle keepers


Introduction

The cattle industry is by far the most important component of the Zambian livestock sector, from an economic and cultural perspective. The Government of the Republic of Zambia promotes economic growth and job creation to reduce the high levels of poverty in the country, by developing a more competitive and diversified economy. The dairy sub-sector has the potential to contribute to these developmental goals. 

In Zambia, there are approximately 3,000–4,000 dedicated smallholder and commercial dairy farmers who produce milk for the formal market, using pure and cross breed dairy cattle (ACF 2012). However, there are about 300,000 traditional cattle-owning households whose cattle also produce milk (World Bank 2010). The behaviour of traditional cattle farmers differs significantly from those of commercial farmers and is influenced by social and cultural factors. For example, there is a tendency to view cattle as a store of wealth and a means of subsistence and draught power, rather than as a commercial business opportunity. 

Approximately 80% of the national cattle herd estimated to be over 3 million cattle is in the hands of traditional farmers who are much less productive with calving rate 50%, calf mortality 20-30%, adult mortality 5%, off-take rate 8-9%, live weight 200-250 kg and growth 2%  than commercial farmers (Neven at al 2006, World Bank 2010). A large portion of the milk produced by these farmers does not enter formal markets.  

It is estimated that out of a total national production of 253 million litres of milk, only 44 million litres passes through formal market channels (ACF 2012). A substantial portion of raw milk, mostly produced by the traditional cattle keepers, does not reach the formal market. This milk, sometimes referred to as ‘lost milk’, is either consumed or sold locally in unprocessed or fermented form, or wasted. 

Many traditional cattle owning households fall outside the catchment area of the existing network of milk collection centres and processing plants which are mainly along the line of rail. This network basically follows the main road from the Copperbelt down towards Livingstone, and does not really extend into the rural milk shed areas where much of the ‘lost’ milk is found.  

Dairy processors in Zambia are facing a shortfall in the supply of raw milk due to a growing domestic demand for dairy products. They are not utilising their current processing capacity to its full potential. Most processors are below 59% capacity utilisation (ACF, 2012). Processors’ demand for raw milk has increased in recent times and has resulted in a dependence on milk powder imports to compensate for the deficit. This also puts pressure on Zambia to allow imports of cheaper and poor quality fresh milk from other countries. In order to become more competitive and meet the growing demand for dairy products, processors need to access substantially larger volumes of raw milk to achieve the benefits of economies of scale. Processors are therefore keen to tap the so-called ‘lost milk’ from the traditional sector, but lack the data on locations and potential milk volumes needed to make informed investment decisions with regard to expanding the network of chilling, procuring and processing facilities. 

There is ample scope for traditional cattle keeping households to increase the monetary benefits they derive from their cattle. For effective interventions to be designed to increase milk, productivity, and market access, information is needed from key cattle areas describing the current and potential situation, and making recommendations, related to improving production, animal husbandry practices and marketing in order to increase income, reduce poverty, create employment and ensure food security and encourage agriculture diversification.  

The purpose of the study was therefore to estimate current milk production volumes, to assess what happens with this milk and to determine how milk production in the traditional cattle farming sector can yield higher economic returns for farmers while also addressing the deficit in raw milk supply to the domestic dairy processing industry.


Methodology

Study design, technique and description of study sites

 

A cross sectional study design employing both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques were used. Purposive sampling was used to obtain the data from district veterinary officers/livestock officers, dairy cooperatives and farmers in four provinces namely; Southern, Lusaka, Western and Central provinces. These were chosen purposively based on their large cattle population and already existing smallholder dairy activities. The districts purposively selected included; Kafue, Mazabuka, Monze, Choma, Kalomo, Namwala, Mumbwa, Chongwe, Itezhi-Tezhi, Kaoma, Mongu, Senanga, Chibombo, Kabwe and Mkushi as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Map of Zambia showing study districts (shaded green).

Existing milk collection centres (15), district veterinary/ livestock / camp officers (39), Dairy Association of Zambia (1), input suppliers (4), dairy processors (3) and farmers (560) provided primary information on the current and potential milk volumes produced and marketed by traditional cattle owning households in the 15 selected districts.

Data collection instruments

Interview-based questionnaires / data collection sheets were administered to district veterinary officers and managers of the existing milk collection centres (MCC) within the study areas to provide primary information about possible interventions in the traditional dairy sub-sector to improve production, animal husbandry practices, animal health and marketing.  

Physical observations [with regards to access to electricity, road network, water, access to processor, distance to existing milk collection centres (MCCs), local milk market, presence of livestock service centres etc] of potential locations for establishing additional milk collection centres were made during this study. Meetings with farmer groups coming from within a radius of about 30 km from suggested locations of MCCs and veterinary/camp officers were held in form of focus group discussions to assess the possibility of required interventions, farmer’s interest and their possible contribution.  The role of other players like Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ), dairy processors, veterinary input suppliers currently taking place towards dairy production was also assessed. 

Calculation of monetary returns from the sale of milk

Current income generated from milk sales that is going into the informal sector and potential income if milk was to come in the formal sector were calculated using the formula in equation 1; 

            MR= TNCL x AvMp x LP x AvPr..........................Equation  SEQ Equation \* ARABIC 1 

Where: MR= annual monetary return/year from the sale of milk

            TNCL= total number of cows in lactation per year

            AvMp= average milk production per day

            LP= lactation period which is 150 days

            AvPr= average price of milk which is US$ 0.23/L informal market and US$ 0.48/L in formal market.


Results and Discussion

Production, income and job creation

Table 1 indicates that the 15 selected districts have a total population of 1,162,645 traditional cattle (39% of the total national herd of 3,000,000 cattle according to World Bank, 2010). The total cattle owning household was 116,267 owning an average of 10 cattle per household. Milk production from the 15 districts was estimated at 57,521,087 litres per annum out of which 3,633,272 litres go into the formal sector through established MCCs. The current monetary value of milk sales in the informal sector is US$ 12,076,217 per year. However, if all this milk was to be brought into the formal sector, there is a potential of realising a monetary value of US$ 27,610,122 per year among the 116,267 rural potential beneficiaries within the catchment areas.

Table 2 indicates that a substantial amount of milk can be obtained even from traditional cattle farmers to support the demand of raw milk in the country and enhance the utilization capacity of milk processors. The estimated total volume of milk available from the 24 potential locations in 13 of the 15 districts will be about 11,884,400 litres per year, which translates to about 27 % of the current volume of milk being processed. The two districts namely; Mkushi and Chongwe did not meet the requirement for establishment of additional MCCs due to low cattle population within the catchment areas. Mopping of the above volume of milk will result into money transfer of about US$ 5,713,654 annually among 15,544 cattle  (average of US$ 368 per household) owning households in the rural poor farming community. Furthermore, a total of 2,400 jobs could be created (FAO 2010).

Table 1: Estimated volume of milk produced and monetary value when sold formally or informally in 15 districts of Zambia

District

No. Cattle

Households

Cows/Heifers

Cows

Milk/Day(L)

 Milk/Yr (L)

Informal Value ($)

Formal Value ($)

Mkushi

9,298

930

4,454

2,895

2,895

434,250

99,878

208,440

Kafue

32,370

3,237

15,200

9,880

9,880

1,482,000

34,0860

711,360

Kabwe

34,598

3,460

16,520

10,738

10,738

1,610,700

37,0461

773,136

Chibombo

70,000

7,000

35,000

22,750

22,750

3,412,500

78,4875

1,638,000

Mumbwa

103,067

10,307

51,444

33,439

33,439

5,015,790

11,536,32

2,407,579

Mazabuka

89,482

8,948

42,000

27,300

27,300

4,095,000

941,850

1,965,600

Monze

143,000

14,300

74,000

48,100

48,100

7,215,000

1,659,450

3,463,200

Choma

141,501

14,150

73,000

47,450

47,450

7,117,500

1,637,025

3,416,400

Namwala

123,016

12,302

68,287

44,387

44,387

6,657,983

1,531,336

3,195,832

Kaoma

26,270

2,627

13,125

8,531

8,531

1,279,688

294,328

614,250

Senanga

80,000

8,000

39,855

25,906

25,906

3,885,863

893,748

1,865,214

Mongu

60,685

6,069

30,342

19,722

19,722

2,958,345

680,419

1,420,006

Kalomo

140,925

14,093

77,227

50,198

50,198

7,529,633

1,731,815

3,614,224

Itezhi Tezhi

82,065

8,207

37,674

24,488

24,488

3,673,215

844,839

1,763,143

Chongwe

26,368

2,637

11,832

7,691

7,691

1,153,620

265,333

553,738

 TOTAL

1,162,645

116,267

589,960

383,475

383,475

57,521 ,087

12,076,217

27,610,122

The number of cows and heifers was obtained from district reports.

Assuming 50% of the cows are lactating, producing an average of two (2) litres per day during a lactation period of 150 days per year.

Average price of milk in the informal market was US$ 0.23 per litre and in the formal market it was US$ 0.48 per litre.

The number of cattle-owning households was obtained by dividing the number of cattle by 10 (Mumba et al, 2011).

 

Table 2: Recommended locations for potential MCCs and estimated potential milk volumes available from traditional cattle

District

Potential MCC location

No. Households

No. Cattle

 Cows & heifers

Current milk

Production /day (L)

Milk  potential / day (L)

Kalomo

Mukwela

522

7,833

4,768

150

800

Choma

Mapanza

449

4,041

2,226

160

750

Namwala

Namwala

520

9,206

5,394

1500

2,500

 

Kabulamwanda

1944

19,449

13,664

800

2,500

 

Chitongo

960

13,883

7,744

500

2,800

Monze

Munyenze

1002

12,870

7,722

1,200

2,500

 

Kayuni

600

8,580

5,148

800

1,500

 

Kaumba

352

7,500

4,100

300

700

Mazabuka

Itebe

1006

20,120

12,072

1,000

2,500

 Kafue

Chipapa

92

2,620

1,505

250

600

Chibombo

Shimukuni

466

7,000

3,500

250

500

 

Chipembi

666

9,360

6,000

800

1,500

 

Chikumbi

210

4, 116

2066

200

800

Kabwe

Munyama

318

3,189

1,700

400

1,000

Mumbwa

Shibuyunji

1,980

18,201

10,530

600

2,000

 

Mumbwa

990

8,893

3,900

500

1,200

 

Nangoma

831

8,317

3,522

600

1,100

Kaoma

K/ central

751

3,818

1,949

300

700

 

Shimano

702

4,231

2,743

250

600

Mongu

Lealui

328

8,063

3,300

800

2,000

 

Namushakende

95

6,682

2,870

250

800

 

Sefula

210

3,000

1,600

250

1,000

Senanga

Muoyo

400

3,813

2,000

400

1,000

Itezhi-Tezhi

Itezhi-Tezhi

150

6,500

3,900

300

800

 

 

15,544

197,169

113,923

12,560

32,150

Assessment of milk utilization

All the farmers interviewed reported that they milk their local cows only once in a day. The calves remain with cows during day time and during night time they are separated and cows are then milked in the next morning. They reported that they do not milk all the cows since it is not possible to sell all the milk due to the absence of market. From the estimated milk production of 57.5 million litres per annum, 3.6 million litres (6.3%) reach the formal sector through established milk collection centres (MCCs). It was estimated that 21.9 million litres (37.5%) was sold informally, 16.1 million litres (28.1%) was used domestically, and 16.1 million litres (28.1%) is wasted or thrown. Some farmers reported that a part of milk is given to relatives and neighbours as a gift. A number of farmers also reported that milk was being thrown when it becomes too bitter after long duration of souring. It was not possible to assess how much milk was thrown away in each area by each farmer but it was quite clear from the group discussions that wastage of about 28% of the milk in the absence of markets is quite significant. 

Animal husbandry practices
Seasonal migration of cattle

Seasonal migration of cattle in search of pasture and water is quite common in large parts of Zambia, particularly on the flood plains of the Kafue and Zambezi River. Around 30% of the cattle populations in Monze and Mazabuka migrate each year, while as much as 70-85% of the cattle herds in Mumbwa, Itezhi Tezhi, Namwala, Mongu, and Senanga move down to the flood plains each year. This normally happens around June/July when grazing and water availability is poor in the upland areas due to high stocking densities. The cattle return upland when the water starts flooding in mid-January. The flood plains offer good grazing areas and water for animals, but the mingling of animals from different villages encourages disease transmission. The flood plains are heavily infested with snails harbouring liver flukes to the cattle causing a parasitic disease called fasciolosis which is responsible for reduced milk yields, poor weight gain and poor reproductive performance. 

Milk marketing becomes difficult when the animals are in the flood plains. Distance and accessibility makes it hard for farmers to transport their milk to the market. Similarly, animal health control strategies, like establishing community animal health and market facilities, become unattainable. When pasture is scarce in the upland areas due to high concentrations of animals, it causes the animals to lose weight. Moving animals from the flood plain to the upland areas precipitates diseases like haemorrhagic septicaemia, black leg and anthrax.  

Animal health

The rate of adoption of good animal health and production practices differs from place to place, depending on the availability of animal husbandry infrastructure, inputs and services, as well as the educational and economic status of farmers and the presence of commercial farmers in the vicinity. In general, the more remote the area (e.g. flood plains), the lower the adoption rate of good practice and the higher the educational and economic status of farmers, the higher the likelihood of adopting good practices. Young farmers tend to adopt improved animal husbandry practices more readily than older farmers. Table 3 shows the adoption rates of various animal health practices. 

The adoption rate of good animal husbandry practices is still low. On average, 36% of farmers observe the recommended dipping, 2% deworming and 26% vaccination regimes. Supplementary feeding and efficient crop residue utilisation is hardly practiced by traditional farmers. The reasons for low adoption rates are poor provision of extension services, expensive or unavailable veterinary drugs and vaccines nearby and long distances to veterinary input suppliers, who are mainly in Lusaka. It appears that some farmers still believe that all of these services should be provided by the government, free of charge, as it was during the first republic regime. Vaccination against diseases of economic importance like Contagious Bovine Pleura-Pneumonia (CBPP), East Cost Fever (ECF) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is done by the Government.

Table 3: Animal husbandry practices and their adoption rates

Husbandry practice

Adoption rate

Tick Control

 

36% (effectively)

64% (irregularly or not at all)

Deworming

 

21% (once / year)

10% (twice / year)

2% (thrice / year)

10% (only when an animal is thin)

57% (no deworming)

Diseases of national economic importance

95%

Other vaccinations

26% (Hemorrhagic Septicaemia, Anthrax, and Blackleg)

33% (when there is an outbreak)

41% (no vaccinations)

Supplementing during dry season

 

88% (no supplement)

9% (maize bran)

3% (molasses)

Veterinary input supply and extension services

Veterinary services are provided by the government and the private sector. Government veterinarians are mainly involved in monitoring and controlling diseases, but can be hired for private services at a reasonable price. The government has also trained para-veterinarians and technicians to offer artificial insemination services. However, government veterinarians and para-veterinarians are not always available to meet the farmers' needs.  

Veterinary Assistants (VAs) provide basic services to farmers at veterinary camp level. In those camps where VAs are provided with housing and transport, they play an important role in animal health and production extension services. In veterinary camps such as Chitongo, Niko, Namwala, Limununga, Senanga, Chipembi and Muoyo, VAs provide extension services to the full satisfaction of farmers, because they are housed within their camp areas. However, in several other camps, VAs are housed far away or out of their areas of operation.  

The number of private veterinarians specialising and practicing in cattle production is low. The result is that private veterinary services are expensive, with call-out charges around US$ 250 or more (World Bank, 2010). These high costs are prohibitive for all but the wealthiest commercial farmers.  

Veterinary input supplies are far from satisfactory in most of the 15 districts. Only five stores were found to be reasonably stocked in Kaoma, Namwala, Choma, Monze and Mumbwa, however, most of the staff in these stores, except in Mumbwa, were found to have poor dispensing abilities. 

Alternative models for raw milk marketing

The current scenario of collecting raw milk from each MCC and from commercial dairy farmers by the processors is working satisfactory and seems to be a correct model as seen in many other countries in the region (ACF 2012). However, this model has a heavy dependence on processors ability to collect the milk. In order to encourage milk production, traditional cattle farmers have to be involved in commercial dairy activities and raw milk marketing. This will also help competition among dairy cooperatives to improve and maintain good quality milk since processors in Zambia pay incentives on hygienic milk quality basis (Food and Drug Act 2001). 

In those traditional cattle keeping areas where the milk production potential is good but an area cannot easily be accessed by processors based in Lusaka, particularly in Itezhi Tezhi and Mongu, authors recommend the establishment of small-scale milk processing, packaging and local marketing.  


Conclusion


Recommendations

The following recommendations were drawn from the study:

1.      Establish milk collection centres to mop up the ‘lost’ milk from accessible and viable milk shed areas in the 13 selected districts of Zambia.

2.      Intensify training and retraining of farmers on improved animal husbandry practices, herd health and dairy farming-as-a-business.

3.      Establish small-scale milk processing, packaging and local marketing facilities in those traditional cattle keeping areas where milk production potential is good but accessibility by processors is problematic or economically less viable.

4.      Establish livestock service centres that can stock veterinary inputs that are accessible to farmers at affordable costs.

5.      Adopt the herd health plan model in extension service delivery.

6.      Establish agro-vet stores, run at camp level by trained community livestock workers or veterinary assistants (VAs), through access to a loan facility.

7.      Introduce improved bulls and artificial insemination (AI) services.


Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Mr. Jean de Matha Ouédraogo- the Country Director, Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV-Zambia) for funding the study and permission to publish this paper. We are thankful to all other stakeholders in the dairy subsector who contributed towards successful completion of this study. 


References

ACF 2012 Agricultural Consultative Forum; Performance and competitiveness of the dairy value chain in Zambia. Volume 1, issue #2.

FAO 2010 Status of and prospects for smallholder milk production: A global perspective, edited by Hemme T and Otte T.  http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1522e/i1522e0.

Food and Drug Act 2001 The food and drugs act, chapter 303 of the laws of Zambia. Statutory instrument # 90 of 2001.

Mumba C, Samui K L, Pandey G S, Hang’ombe B M, Simuunza M, Tembo G and Muliokela S W 2011. Economic analysis of the viability of smallholder dairy farming in Zambia. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 23, Article #137. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd23/6/mumb23137.html.

Neven D, Katjiuongua H, Adjosoediro I, Reardon T, Chuzu P, Tembo G and Ndiyoi M 2006 Food sector transformation and standards in Zambia: Smallholder farmer participation and growth in the dairy sector. Staff paper #18, pp 30.

World Bank 2010 Jobs, prosperity and competitiveness: what would it take for the cattle industry to achieve its potential? A final report. Sponsored by World Bank, DFID and AfDB


Received 21 March 2013; Accepted 25 March 2013; Published 2 April 2013

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