Togo to open by September 2019 a school-farm in order to develop its own dairy sector

Agriculture
Monday, 17 September 2018 19:09
Togo to open by September 2019 a school-farm in order to develop its own dairy sector

(Togo First) - By September next year, Togo plans to open a school-farm in the Savanna region. The project falls under its 2018-2022 national development plan and will help train young breeders, and subsequently help the country get its own dairy production and processing value chains.

“We wish to have our own dairy sector. We are here to identify good partners to benefit from their expertise in cow genetics and their equipment,” said  Dammipi Noupokou, special advisor at the Presidency, who headed a delegation present at the Rennes International Husbandy Fair (SPACE).

“This school will have its own herd. It will operate a small dairy unit supplied with cows around, and pasteurized milk, yogurts and fermented traditional cheese will be produced,” added Helene Bali, general secretary of ministry of agriculture.

According to French newspaper Ouest-France, Serap, a group specialized in milk storage and conservation, is interested in this value chain.

“We would be glad to collaborate with you,” said Ali Haidar, sales engineer at Serap's branch for Africa and Middle East.

The group would like to get engaged in everything logistics, such as transportation and conservation of milk: “Transporting milk, with no disruption of cold chain, from small family breeders in the Savanna to the school-farm’s small dairy unit. The milk will then be stored in refrigerated drums, then solar-powered milk tanks,” the French newspaper indicates.

Earlier on, Bèdibètè Bonfoh, managing director of Togo’s Institute for Agricultural Research, had announced a program to enable farmers to boost their milk production. “Through a genetic enhancement program, local species will be crossed with species with great milk production capacity. The cross-breds will then be given to farmers with the government’s support,”  the official said.  

Togo, it should be noted, currently imports a significant part of dairy products it consumes.  

Fiacre E. Kakpo

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