Transforming the dairy industry in Zambia to grow the overall quality and quantity of milk for sale requires a group effort – that is why we are excited by our recent collaboration with the SNV-led INCREASE project in Southern Province.
Linda Moono, our Regional Extension Officer (REO) in Southern Province attended a Training of Trainers (ToT) course led by SNV’s Increased Climate Resilience in Energy & Agriculture Systems and Entrepreneurship (INCREASE) project in Choma in July 2022 to gain knowledge on climate-resilient topics being promoted to farmers in Southern Province and share knowledge about good dairy farming practices.
At the course focused on sustainable and climate-smart dairy farming Linda was invited to share practical knowledge about how to make silage and hay and how to store it to prevent it going rotten, which the ZDTP has been promoting in Central Province and the Copperbelt for several years.
Farmers who attended the ToT then requested a practical demonstration on dry maize stover silage making, which INCREASE facilitated.
Linda was invited to demonstrate best practices for making silage alongside MFL Officer Theresa Matakala, who said it was a great way to transfer new technologies to farmers for continuity of milk production all year round.
The field day also provided great visibility of Theresa’s role as a Champion of Change within the Zambian dairy industry, which means she is available in Southern Province to help build the capacity of farmers in livestock production and productivity.
Linda said it was great to collaborate with INCREASE because there is a lot of cross-over between what the project is promoting and what the ZDTP encourages farmers to do in the field.
For example, silage making is a climate-smart practice in that it is the best way to conserve green fodder and use it during the dry seasons.
“Silage can be fed to cattle at any time of the year, but it’s especially useful [when the green grass disappears and] farmers face challenges feeding their animals. Silage is also less affected by weather damage because the fodder is stored away safely,” she says.
“I was able to share that silage pits should be well covered with no air circulating to avoid silage going rotten. Hay, on the other hand, requires ventilation because grass for hay is cut before it is completely dry.”
Collaborating with other dairy value chain members or stakeholders was important to avoid duplication of efforts, Linda said.
“Even though we are from different organisations, we have similar programmes and often work with the same farmers. “When we work together, farmers have more time to concentrate on their farming activities, instead of attending similar trainings or meetings with different organisations.”
Modesto Mbewe, SNV’s INCREASE project officer based in Mazabuka, Southern Province, agreed.
“Collaboration (between INCREASE and the ZDTP) will help save time and resources for farmers and our organisations, resulting to increased efficiency in project activity implementations.”
Plans are under way to organise more collaborative trainings for farmers in Southern Province.
For more information, please contact Linda Moono on +260971620694 or you can reach her at the MFL office in Choma (C/O Ministry of Fisheries & Livestock, Office of the Provincial Co-ordinator, P.O. Box 630065, Choma).