Work Package 4: Development of a sustainable and inclusive value-chain for smallholder
Work Package 4: Development of a sustainable and inclusive value-chain for smallholder dairy farmers in the Republic of Mauritius Internship Year II FST students (4 WEEKS – MAY-JUNE 2023) Name of Team Leader Dr (Mrs) Brinda Ramasawmy Molaye Name of the Trainee Project Assistant Mr Hurnam Hemant Hansley BSc (Hons.) Food Science and Technology (with 6 months internship) Year 2 trainees (May 2023-June2023) Ms Sheriline Agathe Ms Dhosheena Moojee Ms Faddwillah Bibi Swad Narain Ms Marie-Noelle Sayede Ms Daksha Chutardary Overview of the activities carried out during internship period ∙Preparing interview questions and summarising results ∙Organise, compile, update records and documentation ∙Answer questions and provide requested information ∙Make telephone calls and obtain needed information ∙Create reports for key informants ∙Ability to effectively use computer software including Microsoft Word and Excel ∙Acted as a reliable and supportive team member ∙Excellent communications and interpersonal skills. Communicates ideas, problems, suggestions, and messages in a timely and effective manner. ∙Listen carefully to others in order to respond appropriately, answer questions or obtain needed information. ∙Data-driven mindset ∙Maintains the confidentiality of all research information. ∙Participates and performs other related duties as required. ∙Laboratory Visit: Food Technology Laboratory + Key informant Interviews, Farm Visit + face to face interview with breeders and visit of organisation + key informant Interviews: FAREI + APD Feedback from trainees on the internship period As a one-month intern working on the project of developing a sustainable and inclusive value-chain for smallholder dairy farmers, we had to implement our conceptual knowledge to carry out our tasks but as it was a short-term workplace practical experience, we developed good personal qualities and working habits as well as appreciable confidence level. We had a better understanding of the Dairy production process, and supply chain management especially in Dairy Industry where raw milk produced by dairy farmers is processed and transformed into dairy products for the customers, marketing and sales and learned about the research and development activities in the dairy sector in Mauritius. Indeed, this internship period was an excellent source of practical experience, learning teamwork, for building personal and professional relationships. As food science students, our views changed based on what we had learned and for us experiential learning was paramount as we had learned how milk production must be carried out to provide quality milk and what ways are used to ensure it.
Validation workshop: Development of a sustainable and inclusive value-chain for smallholder
Work Package 4: Development of a sustainable and inclusive value-chain for smallholder dairy farmers in the Republic of Mauritius VALIDATION WORKSHOP HELD ON 15TH OCTOBER 2021 MAIN OUTCOMES OF VALIDATION WORKSHOP: Land availability First and foremost, the Land Division Unit under the Ministry of Housing should propose a different approach to give/lease land to the cattle breeders. For example, as reported cattle breeders usually wait for six to eight years after making application to obtain the land for livestock production. This eventually leads to drop down in the livestock production. Nowadays, the era we are currently living the cultivation land and forest are being destroyed and new infrastructures such as offices, buildings and others are constructed. Thus, this result reflects on the number of cattle breeders and animals is decreasing day by day. Feed/ Fodder Feed or fodder is one of the biggest problems encountered by breeders. The reasons include, breeders cannot afford, cultivation of forage is not easy as land is use for other purposes, climate change and others. It is important to mention that FAREI produced their own plantation (forage) and they formulate their own feeds for all animals. For example, Guatemala. Difficult for some farmers to hire workers to cut and carry the forage to their farm. Reasons include: workers are not interested anymore, cannot pay the workers as Rs 500 per hour, cost of travelling for the cut and carry especially the increase in the fuel market. Husbandry practices Long time ago in the early 60’s, there was around 60,000 cows and nowadays only 3600 cows. Training programme in terms good hygienic practices, good agricultural practices to the cattle breeders is a must to maintain yearly. Animal diseases for example mastitis’s and veterinary services are very poor as they do not turn up when a phone call is made by the cattle breeders. With the problem raised with the veterinarians, the farmers are subjected to buy their own medication and perform the injection themselves to their animals. Artificial Insemination practices As reported, at the level of veterinary division, they do not perform different trials before using the antidote on the breeder’s animal. This impact can have both positive and negative results. Lack of medicines. The semen injected caused much more damage to the animals. Milk production and quality In Mauritius, the milk production is only at 2% as too dependent on importation. FAREI, however has its own milk plant processing and they provide facility in terms of training young entrepreneurs, for example from ‘alouda’ to ‘mozarella’. Another example, the Maurilait industry order at least 400 litre of milk per week from FAREI to manufacture different milk products but only ‘Perrette’ is prepared using raw fresh milk. Technically in terms of nutrition and dairy value chain to produce milk and milk products is feasible but the cost of production must be re-evaluated. GAP, GMP and GHP are essentials in every stage of production.
