Determinants of Smallholder dairy farmers' adoption of various milk marketing channels in Chongwe District
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Date
2009
Authors
Chikobola, Musaka Mulanga
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
Understanding the factors affecting smallholder dairy farmers' adoption of various milk
marketing channels is essential to implementation of dairy marketing liberalization policies in
Zambia. Adoption of milk marketing through the milk collection centre channel remains poor
among small holder dairy farmers. To investigate some of the root causes, a study on formal
milk marketing and the factors affecting its adoption was conducted. Seventy-one (71)
smallholder dairy farmers from Chongwe district were both randomly and purposively
interviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the adoption decision.
The results indicated that continued market access, quantity of milk sold and the seriousness
of the buyer, market information and technical assistance packages provided by the milk
collection centre were the most important determinants of the adoption of milk marketing
through the milk collection centre (MCC) channel. Other factors identified to affect the
adoption decision were land tenure system, being a member of a co-operative and the head's
experience in dairy and service or professional information.
Four milk marketing channels were identified in the district. Of the interviewees 71.8%
supplied the MCC, 11.3% sold directly to consumers, 9.9% supplied the
supermarkets/processors and 7% sold their milk to the marketers and other retailers. The
formal market share (MCC and supermarkets/processors) accounted for 81.7% of the milk
marketed in 2007/8.
It is therefore recommended that assistance to establish milk collection points and access to
markets, educational and training programmes, enhancement of women's participation and
establishment of realistic credit facilities should be facilitated. Timeliness of payment
procedures by MCCs should also be improved.
Producer co-operatives or associations are identified as being essential to dairy development.
Dairy farmers need to organize themselves to overcome the problem of collection, transport,
processing and marketing of milk. Organization is also important to enhance the bargaining
power of the individual small holder to achieve a strong economical and social influence to
ensure a fill exploitation of the profitability in their dairy enterprise.
Description
Student Project Report
Keywords
Milk Trade--Chongwe, Zambia , Dairy farming--Chongwe, Zambia