FAO DIVERSIFICATION BOOKLET 6

Milk
for health and wealth


Jørgen Henriksen



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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Rome, 2009

ABSTRACT

SMALLHOLDER DAIRYING OFFERS HIGH RETURNS TO LAND AND LABOUR, A SOURCE OF REGULAR INCOME, GIVES WOMEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE, encourages cooperation between smallholders through backward and forward linkages and transfers capital from urban centres to rural areas through the trade of milk. Milk also improves nutrition and can be of particular importance to children, the elderly and people suffering from HIV/AIDS. All in all, dairying is a relatively low risk and low cost economic activity that has the potential to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.

This booklet addresses how to promote sustainable development of smallholder dairy for the benefit of the rural poor. It is aimed at people and organizations providing advisory, business and technical support services.

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

ISBN 978-92-5-106134-3

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