Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the Milk Producers' Organisation , highlights the potential of the Research Chair in Dairy Science & Technology at the University of Fort Hare to drive transformative research, address industry challenges, and support small-scale dairy farmers across South Africa.
For instance, during the recent Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, the MPO stepped in to help dairy farmers vaccinate their herds preventatively, despite the risks involved. It worked with the Department of Agriculture to make exceptions and interventions that protected the livelihoods of many in the industry.
The research chair is still in its infancy, but it has already received a sizable endowment, and Ferreira said there is exciting work that lies ahead. This is a prime example of how research from UFH could develop and grow the local dairy industry. Currently, excess milk leads to producers cutting down on prices, because there appears to be no demand in the system. Developing stronger lower-income sector consumption would thus support both consumers and producers.