Livestock Component and Dairy Industry Development Program in Zambia 2007-2011
Client: USAID/CLUSA (Cooperative League of the US)
The overall objective of the Program is to increase rural household incomes by developing more competitive dairy and beef industries. The intervention involves all actors in the dairy and beef value chains according to an industry-based value chain approach. The underlying philosophy is market facilitation, focusing on the linkages and commercial relationships between the smallholder dairy and beef sectors and the commercial input and output markets.
The Program is a component of the USAID PROFIT (Production, Finance and Improved Technologies) project.
NIRAS’s TA services include:
- supporting the development of policies for the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development;
- establishing Livestock Service Centres in collaboration with the Ministry;
- facilitating markets for beef through supporting meat processors and producers to improve beef quality and reliability of supply.
Examples of activities and results:
- Assisting in transforming emerging dairy producers to commercial processors.
- Improved production techniques have been adopted. Examples include improved milk collection, forage conservation, tick control, regularised veterinary services.
- Linkages between private veterinarians and livestock farmers have been established.
- Establishment of a programme for young veterinarians to gain work experience and prepare for opening private practises
- Support to the Zambia Dairy Processors Association to expand the Association to cover all dairy industry actors.
- Support to establishment of private extension services covering animal health and nutrition for small scale farmers
- Facilitation of the funding of a pilot school milk programme for 14,000 children between Sida and Tetrapak, which will be implemented by WFP during 2011. The pilot will explore the feasibility of a broader/national program targeting 250,000 children.