Improved Dairy Technology to Smallholders in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia: Experiences and Way Forward

Abstract

Progressive achievements gained from introduction of dairy technology to smallholder farmers in the central highlands Ethiopia had brought significant changes in the income and improvement in the smallholder farmer standard of life. The numbers of crossbred dairy cows reaching the smallholders have increased. This study was initiated to show the farmers benefit gained from the full package of technology transfer to the smallholders in the high lands of Ethiopia. A total of 81 farm households (65 Male and 16 Female) were considered to use the improved dairy technology transfer at their level of managements . The Least squares Means Average daily milk yield ADMY were significantly varied at each district (p<0.05). Higher daily milk yields were obtained from Walmara (9.43 ± 0.29 kg/day) followed by Dire inchini (8.92 ± 0.41 kg/day) while lower yields were from Ginchi and Gohatsion (7.89 ± 0.41 & 6.62 ± 0.55 kg/day) respectively. Lactation Milk Yield (LMY) and estimated lactation length (LL) also significantly (P<0.05) varied between the studied villages. The overall milk price at the four districts was 12.00 Dire Inchini, 10.5 Walmara, 8.50 Gohatsion and 7.50,Eth birr respectively. The price of milk fluctuates from 7.50 to 12.00 Ethi birr. Eventhough farmers have tried to organize themselves into dairy cooperatives to overcome price fluctuations. The result of this study revealed that applications of full packages of improved dairy technology to smallholder realized a growing annual income for the smallholders. Farmers willing to acquire crossbred dairy cows are increasing and are far in excess of the current supply. Advanced smallholder farmers training and strengthening linkages between stakeholders could promote dairy production to dairy commercialization.