Dairy farmers get new start after FMD setback

BEREA – Dairy farmers from Pilot Resource Centre have been equipped with skills to produce yoghurt and sour milk in a bid to cushion them against losses brought about by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak.

In an interview with Teboho Marole, Area Technical Officer Livestock for Pilot Resource Centre, the four-day training conducted by the Lesotho National Dairy Board (LNDB) from Monday to
Thursday last week, was introduced after many farmers were left without a market for their milk when dairy processors stopped collecting it following the FMD outbreak.

He said the initiative is intended to help farmers preserve and add value to their milk instead of letting it go to waste while opening up new income-generating opportunities.

Marole said the training forms part of efforts to build resilience among dairy farmers by equipping them with practical skills to process their own milk instead of relying solely on selling it raw. He noted that by producing yoghurt and sour milk, farmers can extend the shelf life of their milk, reduce waste and create products with greater market value.

He added that the programme does not end with yoghurt and sour milk production. The farmers are also expected to undergo cheese-making training in the near future as part of a broader value addition strategy aimed at diversifying dairy products and increasing farmers’ incomes.

According to Marole, the long-term vision is for the farmers to become commercial suppliers capable of meeting the standards required by major supermarkets, schools, hospitals and other large food establishments. He said the farmers have already established a farmers’ cooperative which will enable them to work collectively, strengthen their bargaining power and improve their chances of accessing larger markets.

One of the farmers who attended the training ‘Mamosiuoa Mokhethi said although none of her cattle contracted Foot and Mouth Disease, she still suffered losses because the outbreak disrupted milk collection.

Mokhethi described the training as timely and valuable saying it had broadened their knowledge of the opportunities available in dairy farming.

“The training was very important because it exposed us to other products that can be made
from milk instead of selling it only as fresh milk. We also learned how to improve the quality of our products so that they can meet market standards. Most importantly, the training reminded us of the importance of working together. As a group, we can make our work easier and grow our business much faster than if each of us worked alone,” she said.

Another farmer, Khothalang Tsikoane from Ha Lekhafola, said the training had opened their
eyes to the benefits of value addition in dairy farming. He explained that following FMD outbreak, many farmers found themselves throwing away milk after dairy processors stopped collecting it, resulting in significant financial losses.

Tsikoane said processing milk into yoghurt and sour milk would help farmers reduce such losses by extending the shelf life of their produce as both products last much longer than fresh milk. He added that the training had shown them that dairy farming can go beyond producing and selling raw milk, with processing offering an opportunity to establish profitable businesses and increase household income.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the dairy value chain in Berea by encouraging value addition, reducing post-harvest losses and creating sustainable income opportunities for small-scale dairy farmers, even during periods when access to conventional milk markets is affected.

Recently, Botswana donated 100 000 doses of Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccines to Lesotho. This follows the fact that in March this year, Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane declared FMD a national disaster, underscoring the severity of its impact on livestock farmers and broader agricultural sector.