aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

Lablab fodder legume has adapted quite well
in the small farm conditions. It is drought
tolerant, easy to manage, has grazing potential
and yields quite reasonable amounts of dry
matter (average of about 2.55 t/ha per farmer).
The target group used in this project seems to
be suitable. However, constraints such as
sufficient labour for harvesting and conserving
the feed 'till need to be addressed. The on-farm
milk production results are comparable with
those found on-station (APRU, 1988), but the
lablab yields have been higher on-station than
on-farm (5.36 ton/ha against 2.55 ton/ha). It is
thought that this difference was due to planting
at the correct time on-station while usually
farmers tended to plant legume fodder after
planting their crops.
Availability ofcapital investment for adoption
of the technologies does not seem to be a serious
problem. There are various programmes within
the Ministry of Agriculture that can provide
funds to groups and individuals to construct dips
and handling facilities (e.g. Arable Development
Programme (ALDEP) and services to livestock
owners in the communal areas (SLOCA)). Inputs
like drugs are available in government-run
livestock advisory centres. With the sale of milk,
it is hoped that farmers will in time afford to
purchase drugs. Although farmers are expecoed
to produce the bulk of their feed requirements,
feeds can also be purchased from LAC and othvr
private companies,
A financial assessment of the prospect for
small-scale dairy farming was carried out on the
assumption that costs would be met by farmers.
As it appeared that the labour shortage would
prevent plementary farmers fodder from required producing by the improved all sup­
packaetas terereued that ampcei
package, it was therefore assumed that a certain
proportion of the fodder would be purchased thus
increasing the costs of the improved system
(APRU, 1989). Therefore the production strategy
is now aimed at reducing the costs associated
with an improved system in order to increase the
net benefit.
Socially the project has benefited the farmers
by providing surplus milk which is sold to earn
income. Some farmers have managed to
purchase knapsack sprayers and acaricides with
the money realised from surplus milk sales.
Because of those spin-offs from milk sales it is
also planned that the project should commence
a socio-economic monitoring and evaluation.
A marketing strategy is being developed,
involving the establishment of milk collection
centres to be equipped with cooling and storage
facilities. A survey on marketing and the
consumption of fresh and sour milk was
conducted to identify marketing constraints. In
this survey over 60% ofthe farmers sold some of
their milk either fresh or soured. The quantities
sold were dependent on the amount of milk left
after daily family requirements had been met
(APRU, 1988).
It is not easy to quantify the adoption rate.
However, out of the 46 farmers participating in
the project, six other farmers have been provided
with lablab seed to plant on up to one hectare of
land. Also several farmers, both small-scale and
medium-scale, have been enquiring about
Simmental cows and establishment of lablab
fodder. In one area where the construction work
for a milk collection centre is complete, 20
farmers have formed into a milk marketing
group. This includes 12 participating and eight
non-project farmers.
Focus has been limited to the 46 farmers and
the other six farmers around Gabo-one.
Expansion is awaiting the development of an
extension package.
The project has been successful in both
postgraduate and short courses training. Two
scientists obtained MSc degrees from the
University of Guelph while one scientist is just
about to complete a PhD degree in Canada. Six
project staff attended different specialised short
coursc in dairy related fields.
Impacts of the research
programme
To assess whether the programme has changed
or influenced production is not easy, this requires
a step by step analysis of measurable and tangible
changes. This paper will only highlight
some areas whpre it is felt there has been some
changes main]- tiue to the project.
Besides the collaborating farmers who have
benefited directly, the results of the project have
provided a framework for future development
programmes in milk and beef production in the
per-urban areas ofthe country. This information
from the project has been used in outlining the
National Development Plan.
Although Botswana probably does not have a
comparative advantage in milk production, the
government's dairy development policy
encourages this sector. This is evident from the
assistance the government is providing to
farmers through the Financial Assistance Policy
(FAP) and the Dairy Industry Special Fund. The
new government agricultural policy gives
considerable aUtention to the cost of producing
agricultural products. The overall policy is to
provide sufficient income-generating opportunities
to raise household incomes and imp, ve
access to food.
The low performance of the dairy subsector
during the past NDP 6 was attributed largely to
the lack oftechnical expertise within the farming
commuaity and the lack of organised marketing
infrastructure necessary to run a viable dairy
enterprise. During the NDP 7 (Ministry of
Finance and Development Planning, 1991), the
government therefore sought to give more