Dedza farmers to start selling homogenised milk

Dzawonewekha Dairy Farming from Linthipe in Dedza is now processing and packaging milk for sale courtesy of a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) donation of a homonigiser machine and an artificial insemination kit.

In an interview, Luanar Capacity Building for Managing Climate Change in Malawi (Cabmacc) Programme advisory committee board chairperson Bright Kumwembe on Wednesday said Dzawonewekha dairy farmers have taken a significant step in efforts to boost their economic status.

“This group of farmers has shown commitment to expand their business through the sale of healthy homogenised milk but they were facing hitches because of lack of the necessary equipment; hence, our intervention,” he said.

Kumwembe said the funds for the project are part of the K5.5 billion the government of Norway gave to Malawi government to support rural-based small-scale dairy farmers through provision of necessary support systems.

“Local breeds give little milk but with this artificial insemination kit, they are now able to get semen from cattle that produce a lot of milk. Now they get 13 litres of milk per animal instead of four as was the case in the past,” he said.

Dzawonewekha cooperative chairperson Ignacio Mkakama said they are currently waiting for consent from the Malawi Bureau of Standards to start producing homogenised milk.

“MBS inspected this place and made recommendations. We worked on them through Cabmacc,” he said.

Luanar is implementing a research project titled Evaluating Feeding and Breeding Technologies for Optimal Dairy Productivity and Reduced Carbon Emissions Project in Linthipe and Mayani extension planning areas.