milk |
DEMAND for milk is
expected to increase in Tanzania from the current average of per capita
consumption of 45 litres per year to at least the level that the highest
milk consuming country has attained, for instance 100 litres per year.
TANGA Fresh has set
up a cost-effective driving strategic plan set to empower local cattle
farmers to increase milk production as experts tipping the sector growth
to 3.5 per cent in three years.
The analysis
estimated that between 1993 and 2020, the annual demand for milk and
dairy products in developing countries including Tanzania would grow at
between 3.2 per cent and 3.5 per cent annually, implying that the demand
will be more than double in three years.
Demand for milk is
expected to increase in Tanzania from the current average of per capita
consumption of 45 litres per year to at least the level that the highest
milk consuming country has attained, for instance 100 litres per year.
To increase supply
ahead of demand, Tanga Fresh expanded the factory last year to a
capacity of processing 120,000 litres a day from current 50,000 litres a
day. This means keepers have a fresh opportunity. According to Tanga
Fresh, leading in dairy production in the country, they have invested
26.5bn/- for the plant expansion.
The milk company
said the current keepers, with additional training to improve their
dairy skills, envisage feed the factory demand. The firm General Manager
Michael Karata said that the expansion is set to increase market for
dairy keepers in and beyond the region.
"We always engaged
with our keepers and conduct special training as far as supply and
quality assurance of the milk is concerned," Mr Karata said. The local
cattle farmers and dairy stakeholders will be provided with necessary
know-how on milk production both in quantity and quality including vital
measures like density and acidity.
"We know by
empowering our farmers it will raise the quantity and quality of the raw
milk received from collection centres, since they have the capacity,"
he said. On top of improving their skills, Tanga Fresh set to recruit
more keepers from current 12,000 to 60,000 in order to be able to feed
the factory with constant milk production.
To avoid
post-harvest lost, dairy keepers will be provided with necessary milking
equipment to make sure quality assurance is met. Tanga Fresh Marketing
Manager Ally Sechonge said that to meet milk delivery amount per day
they are building dairy keeper capacities and knowledge to increase
animal productions.
"We are working
hard to build capacity among pastoralists in theregion to enable them
supply required amount," Mr Sechonge noted. He said currently in some
days farmers failed to meet the factory demand by supplying less than
the amount needed.
The solution is
upgrading farmers' skills, give them required equipment, and increase
supplier base by recruiting more cattle keepers and giving them the
capital to enable them expand. "The major challenge that we face is
failure to meet the demand of milk products in the market," he said.
The challenge
according to Mr Sechonge is attributed to low production of milk from
the milk farmers. Through the planned strategy, Tanga Fresh will conduct
training courses, field meeting and providing loans programme to
farmers.
"We know by
empowering our farmers we will help in the rise of the quantity and
quality of the raw milk received from the milk farmers," he explained.
Through the strategic plan made, the factory will increase the provision
of necessary milk equipment to farmers in an effort to ensure quality
assurance is met as the productions increases.
The factory was set
to address the milk supply shortages. Tanga Fresh is owned 42 per cent
by 24 farmers' cooperative and the remaining 58 per cent by the
Netherlands investor. The factory, established in 1996, is producing
fresh milk, plain and flavoured yoghurt, mozzarella cheese, butter and
ghee, among other products.
Analysis of dairy
and other related milk products with consumption and products trends
(2016-20) indicates large number of improved dairy cattle, increase
consumption and changing consumer trends as key factors in the growth of
Tanzania dairy sector market.
The analysis points
low production and high animal mortality rate as the biggest factors
which affect the dairy market of Tanzania. The country is also a net
importer of milk and milk products, but it has potential to increase
production and possibly even exports if efficiency can be improved.
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