The Exchange Workshop on formation and practical training concepts for small-scale dairy farmers was the main event of the GIAE Dairy Expert Group (GDEG) in 2019. The expert group has been initiated under the Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIC) implemented by GIZ. ADT is acting as the technical advisor for the expert group and supported GIZ in the preparation and implementation of the expert group meeting which took place from the 2nd to the 6th of December 2019 in Bavaria, Germany. 19 participants, coming from Kenya, Tunisia and Zambia, representing leading actors and stakeholders of dairy value chains attended the workshop.
In various workshop sessions participants were exposed to training facilities and practical training exercises covering the dairy value chain. The University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf in Triesdorf hosted the group in the first two days and introduced their international training programmes and cooperation with Ethiopian and Kenyan universities. A tour to the livestock training facilities and visit of the training centre for dairy laboratory technicians provided further insight into the specialization and professions in dairy value chains. Moreover, the exchange on practical training in Germany was enriched by a one-day exposure at the Training and Applied Research Centre for Dairy and Cattle Husbandry in Achselschwang where all participants took part in different practical exercises for feeding, cow handling, milking and hoof trimming and studied relevant concepts and facilities required for practical training exercises. During the visit of Petra and Johannes Huber‘s dairy farm in Haundorf the participants had the chance to exchange with a dairy consultant of the Besamungsverein Neustadt a.d. Aisch e.V. (BVN) on forages, feed conservation and feed ration formulation. Another visit of the commercial feed plant “Trouw Nutrition” in Burgheim completed the practical side of the programme.
Special emphasis was given to the south-south exchange and the realisation of formation and practical training in on-going projects. Each country presented their on-going training activities while videos and training materials were exchanged and demonstrated the application in the field. The participants analysed the restraining factors for a successful application of training for small scale dairy farmers in the areas of breeding and reproduction, milk production and health management. In working group sessions the participants described the typical training approach / scheme for each of these subjects and exchanged the practical exercises / elements applied.
In the business meeting Mr Nejib Ajili from Tunisia as well as Mr Erick Owino from Kenya were elected as the new chairmen of the GDEG.
The next meeting of the GIAE Dairy Expert Group is proposed to take place alongside the 16th African Dairy Conference & Exhibition from 27th to 29th August 2020 in Kampala, Uganda.
Foto credits: Max Haumann, GIZ and Ferdinand Schmitt, ADT.
