Assessment of Traditional Dairy Production, Milk Marketing and Processing System: In the Case of Alle Woreda, Segen Peoples Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The aim of this study was to assess marketing system and processing in AlleWoreda, Segen Area people of southern Ethiopia. A stratified sampling technique was used to different three Agro-ecologies and randomly sampling technique was implemented to sample and administer semi -structured questionnaires used and a total of 138households were selected from three kebeles. The targeted Kebeles were Kerkerte(Kola), Guma (W/dega) and D/mashille (Dega.). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS(ver.16,2007)package . Descriptive statistics such as means and percentages and summarized and presented by tables and graphs. The study show that the overall average milk produce per house hold (HH) per day for the three district Kebeles was 1.5 liters. Of the total milk produced per HH per day 100% was used for home consumption but not consumed before processed and milk was averagely stayed 2to 3 days for agitating and the form of processing was traditional. Traditional milk processing material identified in the study area was bottle gourd (Qille), clay pot and plastics (46.67%, 37.7% and 15.55%) respectively. About 48.89, 24.44, 17.77 and 8.89% of respondents used woyra, (oleaafrieana), Kollalhoo (Kusaye), Dawakkoo and Rukkatte, respectively, for smoking and washing traditional milk utensils. It was observed that 100% of the respondents in the study area do not sale whole milk due to cultural belief and they only sale butter. In the study area the major challenges for both production and marketing system were shortage of grazing land (37%), shortage of feed (24.43%), disease (24.43%), production system and socio culture (100%) and lack of market accessibility for milk respectively were identified. Factors affecting price of butter were, Season (dry season) and festival were prioritized in the study area. According to the present findings, there must be awareness creating training and intensive study in milk marketing and production system to overcome the cultural problem that hinders milk marketing in the area. Keywords: Dairy production, milk marketing, milk processing, All