The country has around 1.9 million dairy cows, producing about 291 kg/year/cow. Dairy farming systems are family and mainly semi-intensive, and that why the milk yield are higher than those of west Africa. National milk production is around 543,062 ton/year. Milk production is mainly consumed on the farm. Madagascar imports yearly only 7 774tons of milk equivalent (about 31% of milk powder, 31 of condensed/evaporated milk, 26% of milk). Dairy processing sector is moderately industrialized. A large part of the local milk production is sold in local market through artisanal dairies. The daily consumption of milk is around 26 kg/person/year. The two dairies involved in the project are :

Socolait

Created in 1970 under the name of Nestlé SA, Socolait is located in Tananarive (18.8463306,47.473817). Socolait is supplied by more than 2,000 breeders, 90 intermediaries and 6 collection centers. The collection area extends 60 km around the plant. Socolait collects around 11,000 kg of milk per day. Socolait produce a wide range of dairy products (pasteurised milk, butter, yogurt, cheese, etc.)

Sodimilk

Sodimilk is a dairy established in 2015 in Antsirabe (-19.856142,47.016057). Sodimilk is supplied by around 150 milk farmers, and collect daily around 1,500 kg of fresh milk. The collection goal is 2,500 kg/day. Sodimilk managed two milk collection centers directly and it is supplies by two private milk collection centers based in Antsirabe and the surrounding area (Andranomanelatra, Antsirabe).

Challenges

• Socolait: (i) to make formal contract with farmers, (ii) to create specifications for raw milk, (iii) to set up a milk control system, (iv) to anticipate the need for fodder, (v) to train milk farmers in planning needs, (vi) to develop access to fodder sorghum seeds.
• Sodimilk: (i) to negotiate a price fixed in advance for the rainy and dry season for farmers and collectors, (ii) to develop a milk quality pricing system, (iii) to increase milk availability during the dry season, (iv) and to improve milk quality.