HAZRAT JI BABA DAIRY, KANDAHAR

Exposure Visit: Dairy Know How visit to Delhi, India in July 6th -16th, 2013 In July 2013, eight Small and Medium Enterprises from Kandahar were selected to receive training in India, on the best practices in the dairy sector. The training was designed to cater to the particular requirements of the dairy sector in Kandahar vis-à-vis climatic conditions, availability of raw materials for animal feed, machinery and technological advancement. One of the participants for the training was the Hazrat Ji Baba Dairy, which had registered, with AREDP in the year 2012. Two brothers with the support of 6 laborers have been running the 96 cattle dairy farm. Since the exposure visit, the Dairy has recorded a 17% increase in employment and sales have increased by 170,000 Afs.

The SME owners implemented the best practices and have realized the following major changes: 1.Improved hygiene, productive labor hours and reduction in product waste:

The SME has been able to build its capacity by reducing the quantity of milk wasted every production cycle by installing a milking machine and an automated milking system. It was during the exposure visit that the SME was introduced to modern milking methods, which were both cost efficient and reduced wastage of the product. The change in the milking system also ensured better hygiene and productive labor hours. 2. Reduction in calf mortality, bovine diseases, feed cost and increased productive life of animals:

The dairy SME has made considerable progress in reducing calf mortality by building a birthing chamber and a separate pen for newborn calves. They have also reduced the feed cost of the dairy by separating heifers from milking cows and by modernizing their feeding troughs. Installation of new cow examination equipment has reduced bovine diseases and increased the productive life of animals. 3. Producing silage for dairy sustainability: One of the biggest challenges that the dairy sector in Kandahar faces is providing feed for the animals during the lean season. At the exposure visit, the dairy SME was provided knowledge on producing silage (Silage is a kind of fermented fodder with high moisture content prepared from fresh grass, alfalfa and straw) with locally available materials and their substitutes. Producing silage at the dairy has ensured its sustainability. AREDPs interventions work as a catalyst towards achieving sustainability of the SME sector. In the case of Hazrat Ji Baba diary, production, sales, and employment have increased in a short span of 6 months. The knowledge gained through the exposure visit has also reduced bovine diseases, wastage, and have encouraged the owners to progress from milk to dairy items producers.

 

 Participants  of  the  Dairy  Exposure  Visit  

Background:  

The Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Program (AREDP) supports the empowerment of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) through the Enterprise Development Unit. This unit aims to support the emergence of a stronger SME sector by facilitating trade linkages with the rural economy and adequate access to financial services. The objective is to strengthen value chains, assist SMEs by providing business advisory and financial services to improve productivity and capacity.

One enabling tool for SME support is the international exposure visit where SME’s are offered the opportunity of receiving first-hand knowledge on international best practices. Furthermore, these visits are organized and conducted in a manner suiting Afghan enterprises so that on their return, the SMEs can implement international best practices in their national settings. These training programs have been very beneficial in stimulating innovation in dairy sector.

One such success is the Hazrat Ji Baba Diary of Kandahar, which received training on Dairy farming in an international exposure visit to India. This training visit was organized for 8 SME’s with 10 participants, including a female SME owner.

Objectives  of  the  exposure  visit:  § To enhance the overall dairy value chain by

identifying the major gaps and knowledge on overall dairy farming.

§ Support SMEs in understanding the difference in breeds of animals, increase their knowledge on animal rearing, dairy farming machineries, feed, reduction of input costs and also packaging of products.      

§ Increase exposure of farmers on use of by-products of dairy farms vis-à-vis biogas, manure management and dairy products processing.    

§ Exposure to production skills and technologies could potentially increase the demand for local dairy products, which might lead to spill over of the industry into neighbouring provinces.  

   

AREDP  Contacts:    E-­‐mail:  rahmatullah.quraishi@mrrd.gov.af  Website:  www.aredp-­‐mrrd.gov.af  

Stimulating  Growth  and  Innovation  in  the  Kandahar  Dairy  Cluster   #010  January  2014  

 Milking  system  

Business  Development  Officer  inspecting  dairy

New  animal  examination  equipment

Preparation  of  silage

Together  Towards  a  Competitive  Afghanistan  

 Milking  machine