Development and Adoption of Technologies for Improving Dairy Productivity and Nutrition among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Malawi

Abstract: 
This is as an action research project which will be conducted in the farming communities in Majiga and Chitsanzo Milk Bulking Groups in Central Malawi. The aim of the research is to develop feed technologies for improving dairy productivity; analyse adoption process of the feeds and the associated costs of the technologies. The feeding technologies will be promoted along other improved technologies such as breeding, housing and disease control. The milk and feeds value chain will be analysed and used to improve production and marketing of dairy products. Plans for up-scaling the feed technologies with farmers and the feed industry players will also be developed. The study will be conducted as part of a training and research undertaking for two MSc. students at Bunda College of Agriculture.
Ceci est un projet de recherche-action qui sera menée au niveau des communautés agricoles dans les associations de producteurs de lait de Majiga et Chitsanzo dans la région centrale du Malawi. Le but de cette recherche est de développer des technologies d’alimentation pour améliorer la productivité laitière; d’analyser le processus d’adoption des aliments et des coûts associés des technologies. Les technologies d’alimentation seront promues parmi d’autres technologies améliorées telles que le contrôle de la reproduction, du logement et de la maladie. La chaîne de valeur du lait et des aliments sera analysée et utilisée pour améliorer la production et la commercialisation de produits laitiers. Les plans de mise à l’échelle des technologies d’alimentation avec les agriculteurs et les acteurs de l’industrie alimentaire seront également développés. L’étude sera menée dans le cadre d’une formation et de la recherche entreprise par deux étudiants de maîtrise du Collège Agronomique de Bunda.
Language: 
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Enhancing Livestock Productivity
Date of publication: 
2012
Country: 
Region Focus: 
Southern Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories: 
Additional keywords: 
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Enhancing Livestock Productivity