This case study on Participatory smallholder dairy value chain development in Fogera woreda, Ethiopia: Experiences from IPMS project interventions by Tilahun Gebey, Tesfaye Lemma, Dirk Hoekstra, Azage Tegegne and Bogale Alemu was released by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in July 2012.
Market-oriented smallholder dairy in Fogera has an opportunity for growth because of growing urban population in the district itself as well as in the wider Bahar Dar–Gondar milkshed. The Improving Productivity & Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian Farmers project introduced a participatory market-oriented dairy value chain development approach with partner organizations in 2005. IPMS together with its partners also identified gaps in the dairy value chain through Participatory Rapid Appraisal and also designed interventions involving key value chain actors.
This approach included increased use of knowledge capturing and sharing by the extension services. Major production interventions were the development of communal grazing areas through clearance of a noxious weed called Hygrophilla auriculata and introduction of area enclosure, backyard fodder development and increased use of rice crop residues. Input service supply interventions included community-based trypanosomosis control and bull stations. IPMS and its partners also provided support needed to establish two milk processing marketing cooperatives.
A household survey conducted in 2009 assessed the combined impact of all these interventions. It showed significant differences in milk quantities sold by adopter and non-adopter households in the urban areas and doubling of butter production/sales in the rural areas. It is noted that this additional butter sales benefits rural women since they manage the production and sale of butter.
ILRI Clippings 