SUPPORTING SMALLHOLDER DAIRYING IN ASIA

Tropical Asia is the largest milk-producing region of the world. Its efficiency as an integrated smallholder production system provides financial, health and social benefits to millions of rural dwellers. Variations between cultures and economic circumstances define local options for further development of smallholder dairying. Notwithstanding the success of this industry, it has been misunderstood in some international development agencies and national policies, and as a consequence has not attracted the same analysis and investment as other sub-sectors of agriculture and rural development. Technological and environmental efficiencies suggest that smallholder dairy industries may demonstrate a higher likelihood of sustainability than the mono-cultural industries of developed countries. The contributions, success, and social and economic spin-offs support a revised consideration of smallholder dairying in the national development policies of tropical Asia. Smallholder dairying is a major Asian activity, as is clear in India, the world’