The country has around 1.5 million dairy cows producing about 127 kg/year/cow. Dairy farming systems are family, either pastoral or mixed farming system. The level of intensification is low. National milk production is around 196 770 ton/year. Dairy processors collect less than 10 % of the national milk production. Yearly, 20 436 tons of milk equivalent are processed in dairies. Burkina Faso imports yearly 22,790 tons of milk equivalent (mainly condensed & evaporated milk, 57%). Milk production is mainly consumed on the farm. Urban populations consume mainly dairy products made from imported milk powder. The daily consumption of milk products (mostly milk) is around 25 kg/capita/year. The two dairies involved in the project are:

Bonnet Vert

Bonnet Vert is a private dairy processing company located in Bobo-Dioulasso (11.1759959,-4.3725899). The enterprise was establish in 2000. Bonnet Vert collects between 250 and 350 kg of milk per day. Around 30 dairy farmers supply Bonnet Vert daily. The milk farmers are located around the city up to 30 km. The products offered by Bonnet Vert are mainly pasteurized fresh milk and yoghurt.

Plateforme d’innovation laitière de Banfora (PIL of Banfora)

PIL of Banfora (10.6451681,-4.7907907) is a consortium of four dairy processors: Kossam Comoé (created in 1994), Banfora Kossam (created in 1999), Kossam Apess (created in 1999j) & Aïcha Lait (created in 2003). About 300 milk farmers (including 30 pilot milk farmers) supply groups of collectors organized into seven collection points (located mainly within a 50 km radius around Banfora). Some dairies have diversified their production (fresh cream, milk oil, butter, cheese on order, soap, body care cream). The two main products are yoghurt and fresh milk.

Challenges

• Bonnet Vert: (i) to reduce collection time, (ii) to limit transhumance departures, (iii) to improve breeding practices, (iv) to organize the milk farmers for the purchase of industrial feed, (v) to increase animal productivity.
• PIL of Banfora: (i) to make collection centres places for exchange between farmers, (ii) to improve equipment and training for farmers, (iii) to improve access to quality water, (iv) to improve forage storage and use.