Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Viability of smallholder dairying in Wedza, Zimbabwe

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Viability differences in smallholder dairy farming are a result of differences in access to markets and services. It is hypothesized that innovations that improve productivity and market linkages also improve returns and viability. The viability of smallholder dairying in Wedza was characterised by interviewing 52 households using semi-structured questionnaires. Information on demographics, production, marketing, livestock numbers, assets and constraints was obtained. Farmers were resource-constrained with differences in access to resources. The highly resourced farmers had higher milk output and numbers of livestock. Almost 40 % of the households were female-headed, and these dominated the poor category. Household sizes ranged from 4 to 13 persons. Milk off-take was low (3.7 ± 0.53 l/cow/day), due to various constraints. Only rich farmers had viable enterprises in purely financial terms. Per litre cost of milk was more than selling price (US$0.96) for most farmers except the relatively rich. Operating ratios were 1.7, 0.6, 1.4 and 1.1 for the poor, rich, sub-centre and milk collection centre farmers, respectively. This means incomes from the dairy activities did not cover costs. Sensitivity analysis indicated that increases in total variable costs and labour reduced returns. Milk production and viability were influenced by access to resources and markets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ayenew, Y. A., Wurzinger, M., Tegegne, A. and Zollitsch, W., 2009. Performance and limitation of two dairy production systems in the North western Ethiopian highlands. Tropical Animal Health Production, 41: 1143-1150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bebe, B. O., Udo, H. M. J. and Thorpe, W., 2008. Characteristics of feeding and breeding practices for intensification of smallholder dairy systems in the Kenya highlands. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 20, Article #23. Available: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/2/bebe20023.htm Accessed 25/11/2011.

  • CARE Malawi, 2010. Supporting female-headed households program (P3). Available: http://www.wfp.org/countries/malawi. Accessed 27/04/2011.

  • Costales, A., Delgado, C., Catelo, M. A., Lapar, M. L., Tiongco, M., Ehui, S. and Bautista, A. Z., 2007. Scale and access issues affecting smallholder hog producers in an expanding peri-urban market, Southern Luzon, Philippines. Available at http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/rr151_0.pdf, accessed 11 October 2011.

  • Edirisinghe, J. C., Edirisinghe, M. P. and Auwardt, D. M., 2008. Reasons for variations in the levels of efficiency in smallholder dairy milk production in Sri Lanka: A Cross Sectional Data Analysis. Journal of Food and Agriculture, 1(2): 30-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunjal, K. and Pound, J., 2010. FAO/WFP Crop and food security assessment mission to Zimbabwe. Available: www.fao.org/docrep/012/ak352e/ak352e00.pdf. Accessed 27/04/2011.

  • Habib, T. Z., 2010. Socio-Psychological status of female heads of households in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh., Journal of Anthropology, 6, 2: 173-186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemme, T. and Otte, J., 2010. Status and prospects for smallholder milk production: A global perspective. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2010, Available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1522e/i1522e00.pdf, Accessed 11/10/2011.

  • Kabirizi, J., Turinawe A., Ebiyau, G., Kigongo, J., Akwanga, D. and Nangooti, N. 2009. Impact of improved forage technologies on profitability of dairy enterprise and factors affecting utilisation of technologies. African Crop Science Conference Proceedings, Volume. 9: 745-749.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karuga, S., 2009. Dairy value chain analysis Timau shed for micro-enterprises support programme trust. Available: http://www.mespt.org/documents/TIMAU%20DAIRY%20VALUE%20CHAIN%20ANALYSIS.pdf Accessed 25/11/2011.

  • Majuru, A. T. 2009. Economics of smallholder dairy production under incomplete market: the case of Wedza district, Zimbabwe (unpublished MSc thesis, University of Zimbabwe).

  • Mapekula, M., Chimonyo, M., Mapiye, C. and Dzama, K. 2009. Milk production and calf rearing practices in the smallholder areas in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, Tropical Animal Health Production, 41: 1475-1485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mburu, L. M., Gitu, K. W. and Wakhungu, J. W., 2007. A cost-benefit analysis of smallholder dairy cattle enterprises in different agro-ecological zones in Kenya highlands. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 19, Article #95. Available: http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd19/7/mbur19095.htm Accessed 25/11/2011.

  • McDermott, J.J., Staal, S.J., Freeman, A.H., Herrero, M., Van de Steeg, J.A. 2010. Sustaining intensification of smallholder livestock systems in the tropics, Livestock Science, 130(1-3): 95-109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekonnen, H., Dehninet, G. and Kelay, B., 2009. Dairy technology adoption in smallholder farms in ‘Dejen’ district, Ethiopia.

  • Mtambanengwe, F., Chikowo, R., Siziba, S., Dhliwayo, D. and Mapfumo, P., 2010. Translating integrated soil fertility management empirical knowledge into action through participatory learning and marketing with farmers in Zimbabwe. Second RUFORUM Biennial Meeting 20–24 September 2010, Entebbe, Uganda.

  • Murage, A. W., and Ilatsia, E. D., 2011. Factors that determine use of breeding services by smallholder dairy farmers in Central Kenya, Tropical Animal Health Production, 43: 199-207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council., 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. Seventh Revised Edition, Available at http://www.nap.edu/catalogue/9825.htm Accessed 5/07/2011.

  • Nganga, S. K.,Kungu, J., de Ridder, N. and Herrero, M. 2010. Profit efficiency among Kenyan smallholders milk producers: A case study of Meru-South district, Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(4): 332-337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogola, T. D. O., Nguyo, W. K. and Kosgey, I. S., 2010. Economic contribution and viability of dairy goats: implications for a breeding programme, Tropical Animal Health Production, 42: 875-885.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salasya, B., Mwangi, W., Mwabu, D. and Diallo, A. 2007. Factors influencing adoption of stress-tolerant maize hybrid (WH 502) in western Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2(10): 544-551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S. and Sharma, S., 2011. Measurement of technical efficiency in dairy sector of India: A stochastic frontier production function approach, TMC Academic Journal, 5 2: 51-64.

    Google Scholar 

  • SPSS Inc. (2007). SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0. SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA

  • Tefera, T. L., Puskur, R., Hoekstra, D., and Azage, T., 2010. Commercializing dairy and forage systems in Ethiopia: An innovation systems perspective. Working Paper 17. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya. 57 pp. Available: http://www.ethiopian-gateway.com/eaportal/sites/default/files/Commercializing%20dairy%20and%20forage%20systems%20in%20Ethiopia(wp17).pdf Accessed 16/06/2011.

  • The ALive Initiative (Partnership for Africa Livestock Development, Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Growth), 2011. The ALive Policy Note. Available: www.alive-online.org. Accessed 6/05/2011.

  • Titterton, M., and B. V. Maasdorp. 1997. Nutritional improvement of maize silage for dairying: mixed crop silages from sole and intercropped legumes and a long season variety of maize, Animal Feed Science and Technology, 69: 263-27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uddin, M. M., Sultana,M. N., Ndambi, O. A., Hemme, T. and Peters, K. J. 2010. A farm economic analysis in different dairy production systems in Bangladesh. Livestock Research for Rural Development 22 (7) 2010. Available at http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd22/7/uddi22122.htm Accessed 15/11/2011.

  • UNDP 2011, Human Development Report 2010. Available: http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/ZWE.html. Accessed 26/04/2011.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted with the support of the Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training project financed by the Southern African Development Community/European Union. The authors are grateful to the smallholder dairy farmers of the Wedza Dairy Development Scheme for their active participation in the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Plaxedis Ivy Zvinorova

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Tinyiko Edward Halimani & Nobbert Takarwirwa Ngongoni

  3. Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Renneth T. Mano

Authors
  1. Plaxedis Ivy Zvinorova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tinyiko Edward Halimani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Renneth T. Mano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nobbert Takarwirwa Ngongoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tinyiko Edward Halimani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zvinorova, P.I., Halimani, T.E., Mano, R.T. et al. Viability of smallholder dairying in Wedza, Zimbabwe. Trop Anim Health Prod 45, 1007–1015 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0325-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0325-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation