Monday, July 19, 2010

Smallholder Dairy Commercialization Programme

How do you help rural people overcome poverty?
Well, IFAD seems to have a to have struck the right notes in this sphere of eradication of poverty through the Smallholder Dairy Commercialization Programme (SDCP).

SDCP Logo

Recently, I was on the field on Impact Assessment Survey of this program and I saw for myself how this programme has had a transformational change on the ground.
Farmers are empowered with skills on how to raise grade cows (gradually removing the old local breeds from their herds) which in turn provide continuous inflows to households and thus empowering households.
Previous Local/Indigenous herds kept

Replacement with English breeds

IFAD has been able to achieve this success through positive collaboration with Ministry of Livestock Development.
Vehicles belonging to extension officers

The roads now are the only stumbling block


Below are some of the pictures captured in the field:
Farmers are taught how to conserve fodder


Some of the fodders planted as a result of intensive training: 












Value Addition and Marketing:

Milk bar



Other Energy Conservation Aspects of this Project:

Bio-gas Production for the farmers







Technology Innovations at the farms


Bio gas Production at one of the farms visited


Useful Links:

  1. Ministry of livestock SDCP page
  2. IFAD projects website with facts and figures of the project
  3. Ifadkenya project page




No comments: