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Tailor-made microcredit for smallholder dairy farmers; improving the dairy sector

¹Green innovation Centers for Agriculture and Food Sector, Zambia
²Mwimba College of Agriculture, Malawi
³Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Cooperative College, Zambia

Abstract

The dairy sector has been recognised as a potential profitable enterprise for smallholder dairy farmers in Zambia and Malawi. It provides a valuable source of regular income and contributes to food and nutrition security. However, this enterprise is currently characterised by low productivity due to poor access to agriculture financial services, resulting in inadequate animal feed resources, poor pasture development, unavailability of water, poor reproductive performance of dairy cows, untimely disease control and others. Furthermore, smallholder farmers are generally the most financially excluded group within the agriculture sector. Agricultural financing remains one of the critical enablers to facilitate growth within the sector. Micro Financing Institutions are seen as an opportunity for increased agricultural productivity and enhanced economic development. Therefore this project aims at creating a tailor-made microcredit package for smallholder dairy farmers calling for different stakeholders in the dairy sector. The project will use a participatory approach where a needs assessment will be done in the already existing diary groups or cooperatives.

Keywords: Microcredit, smallholder dairy farmers, stakeholders, tailor-made

Contact Address: Meekness Kapaale, Green innovation Centers for Agriculture and Food Sector, Monze, Zambia, e-mail: meeknesskapaalegmail.com