Lindsay Falvey & Charan Chantalakhana
Total consumption of milk in developing regions is projected to increase from 164 million metric tonnes in 1993 to 391 million metric tons by the year 2020 – a 138 percent increase! The expected increase in per capita consumption is from 38 to 62 kg/person. The triple effects of population increase, income growth and urbanisation will fuel this tremendous growth in demand. Milk provides quality protein and essential micronutrients needed for nutrient balance in marginal diets based on staple grain and root crops. The production of more milk in developing countries will help meet the needs of urban families at prices they can afford. With affordable prices, poor families, especially children, are more likely to consume the quality protein and essential micronutrients they need for healthy physical and mental development. Increasing dairy production is a major challenge for those engaged in international livestock development. Moreover, there are environmental concerns about livestock production in fragile landscapes, so increasing milk supply should be done in an environmentally sustainable manner. Research can help meet this challenge. Meeting the growing demand for milk offers both a major opportunity and a significant challenge to the smallholder dairy farmers who predominate in developing countries. The importance of smallholder dairying in developing countries has too often been overlooked. Milk is a "cash crop" for smallholders; converting low value forages and crop residues, and using family labour into a valued market commodity. Notwithstanding its importance, smallholder dairying has been poorly documented and understood. Professors Falvey and Chantalakhana and the authors have done us all a service in providing this comprehensive document about smallholder dairying. This volume covers the breadth of smallholder dairying with a mix of the practical aspects of interest to farmers and the scientific information needed by professionals interested in internation
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