Business News

Malawi use mobile phones to boost milk production

Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) has dramatically increased milk production in Dedza through mobile phone extension services.
In an interview on Thursday, Luanar Extension Department deputy head Hastings Chisawa said what farmers are asked to do is text 52210 if they are in need of extension services.

Milk production has been on rise due to the use of mobile phones
Milk production has been on rise due to the use of mobile phones
“As soon as we get the SMS, we provide extension services. If the animals are sick, we ask for signs and symptoms before prescription is done and treatment commenced,” he said.
The one-and-half-year project, which has just wound up, has significantly increased milk production at Magomero and Chimbiya in Dedza where the Dairy Value Project was piloted.
The aim of the project, whose donors were the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid), was to boost milk production which would in turn shore up incomes among farming households in the pilot areas.
Luanar partnered Michigan State University and Tamil Nadu University of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences in the project.
Malawi has an acute shortage of extension workers. Currently, extension worker farmer ratio stands at 1:2 500 against the recommended ratio of 1:700.
Chisawa said the project has also improved the health of the animals and the quantity and quality of milk.
Evelyn Banda, a farmer from Chimbiya in Dedza, said before the project started her milk would be rejected on account of quality.
“In fact, I was thinking of quitting dairy farming because I would not recoup money invested in milk production. And time and again, my milk would be rejected as it had sour taste.
“But with expertise from Luanar, I am now able to produce quality milk and make profits.
“I make enough money that I am now able to send my children to school and cater for their needs,” she said.
Chiwasa concurred with Banda that milk reject rates have dropped in most bulking groups in the target areas as most farmers are now practising good animal husbandry.
However, all these efforts will be eroded due to a 10 percent new tax measure on SMS and mobile data introduced by finance minister Goodall Gondwe in the 2015/16 budget.

Related Articles

Back to top button