Rapid population growth and urbanization is creating a strong demand for milk in sub - Saharan Africa (SSA) and the majority of countries have the potential to meet the growing demand by developing their domestic resources. This study provides an overview of dairying in SSA and discusses the principal constraints to development as well as the experience gained from some earlier initiatives. It analyzes the main biological, technical, economic and institutional issues and summarizes the opportunities and options for future dairy development. Appropriate strategies and policies are suggested and estimates are made of the investment requirements to meet future demand for dairy products. Some implications for donor agencies are also considered.

Blueprints for Tropical Dairy Farming provides insight into the logistics, infrastructure and management required for the development of small and large dairy farms in tropical developing countries. Farmers will learn how to improve the welfare, milk quality and productivity of their dairy herds. This book complements author John Moran’s five previous books on the principles of tropical dairy farming. The manual covers a wide range of topics related to ensuring the sustainability of dairy production systems in tropical developing countries, such as South and East Asia, Africa and Central America. It also provides guidelines for the best management practices of large-scale, more intensive dairy systems. While smallholder farms are the major suppliers of milk in the tropics, many larger farms are becoming established throughout the tropics to satisfy the increasing demands for fresh milk. Blueprints for Tropical Dairy Farming will be a valuable resource for farmers and stockpeople who want to improve the productive performance of their dairy herds, farm advisers who can assist farmers to achieve this aim, educators who develop training programs for farmers or who train dairy advisers in the basics of dairy production technology, and other stakeholders in tropical dairy production, such as local agribusiness, policy makers and research scientists. National and international agencies will learn new insights into the required long-term logistics for regional dairy development, while potential investors will acquire knowledge into intensive tropical dairy farming.