Break through of farmer led dairy business MVIWAMBO is a dairy farmers group net-work formed of 17 Dairy farmer groups to enhance quantity and quality milk production and processing. Location of the organization is in Mbozi District south west of Tanzania.
The organization was registered on 12 the February 2004 with the ministry of Home affairs as an NGO or CBO (None Government organization/community Based Organization ) with Reg.No so.12344,and is the only Dairy farmer organization in the District. The members (Dairy farmers) Count 1.135 in number -in year 2010.
The main objective of the organization is to carry out all activities conductive to the promotion of development for increased milk production, processing, marketing and consumption ,and thus the economic well being of Dairy farmers and the community as a whole. 
The proposed project is to conduct training on dairy business activities. 
The implementations of the activities will be done partially by its members and or by hired experts under the organization supervision.

2012: RATIONALE/JUSTIFICATION OF THIS PROJECT
Mviwambo’s main ambition is to realize a dairy plant owned by its members through shares. This factory will but all milk locally produced, processes it to high quality dairy products that will be sold at the local/regional markets, hence resulting in a better income for dairy farmers.
A group of Dutch farmers, all member of ZLTO, the Farmers Association of Southern Netherlands, have established Foundation Kuungana in 2009 by the members of a group of farmers from ZLTO. Mviwambo and the Dutch farmers from Kuungana established relationships since 2006.The farmers from Kuungana and Mviwambo have agreed to participate ( financially) in a new dairy processing plant in Vwawa. Both parties prepared a business plan for the farmers owned processing plant.

The project 11mvi-5704 (started in 2011) focuses on training and extension programmes to dairy farmers with the aim to improve the milk production in quality and quantity and includes institutional support to the management of Mviwambo and to be establishing factory. During the year 2011 the project was implemented by the staff and board members of Mviwambo.Although it is too early to assess the impact of this project, there is sufficient evidence of concrete positive results at the farmer’s level and at the group level. Farmers are applying (part of the) newly acquired knowledge to cultivate fodder crops with as better milk, production per animal, farmers improve the stables of the animals, farmers prove additional nutrients to the animals. Record keeping and cooperative management issues are seriously addressed by Mviwambo since two years. 
Due to training and awareness, many groups have changed the leaders recently and groups seem to become more active. Systematic record keeping by groups/individuals is done but needs further improvement/follow up, especially with the eye on the future establishing a dairy processing plant owned by Mviwambo. This project proposal for 2012 is in fact a continuation of the 2011 project which was designed for 2 years.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
In order to realize the dairy processing plant it is important to increase milk production, both in quality and quantity. At the same time, DFG management skills needs to be strengthened as farmers have to cooperate in for example milk collection. The following objectives need to be addresses in 2012.&#8195;
Objective 1: Increase the milk production and milk quality
In collaboration with ULRC (UYOLE Livestock Research Center) and for sustainability, proposed the following activities will be carried out in three (3) years
&#61656;	Establishment of improved pastures and forages (Rhodes grass, Desmodium, Napier grass and Multipurpose trees)
&#61656;	Proper collection of crop residues for dry season feeding
&#61656;	Harvesting and preventing/treatment of fodder for dry season feeding

Objective 2: Strengthen financial management in DFGs
Mviwambo will conduct leadership and financial management trainings at two selected centers which will accommodate a class of 32 participants at one time. This will result in total of 24 sessions with expected 64 participants representing all DFGs.

Objective 3: Facilitation in cross-learning and exchange
Mviwambo and Uyole LRC will conduct a cross-learning training of 60 dairy farmers to Mufindi and Njombe districts.

Objective 4: Enhance understanding on commitment of DFGs to the proposed dairy plant
Mviwambo will conduct open training meeting in each DFG which will accommodate a meeting of average of 64 participants at one time. This will result in total of 17 session with expected 1088 participants in all DFGs. (This meeting will include DFGs’ members and non-DFGs’ members who keep dairy cattle)




2011 INTRODUCTION :
MVIWAMBO is  a dairy  farmers  group  net-work formed  of  17 Dairy  farmer  groups  to  enhance   quantity and  quality  milk  production  and  processing. Location  of the  organization  is  in  Mbozi  District  south  west  of  Tanzania.
The  organization  was  registered  on 12 the  February  2004  with  the  ministry  of  Home affairs  as  an  NGO or CBO (None  Government  organization/community   Based  Organization ) with  Reg.No  so.12344,and  is  the  only   Dairy  farmer  organization  in the   District. The   members  (Dairy  farmers) Count  1.135 in number -in year 2010.
The  main  objective  of  the  organization  is  to  carry out  all activities  conductive  to the  promotion  of  development  for  increased  milk  production, processing, marketing   and  consumption ,and  thus the  economic well being of  Dairy  farmers  and  the  community as a whole. 
The proposed  project is to conduct  training on  dairy business  activities.  
The  implementations  of  the  activities  will  be  done  partially by  its  members  and  or  by  hired  experts  under  the   organization supervision.

OVER  ALL OBJECTIVE :  Improve  milk  production and  income in  Households to boost  milk  collection in collecting  centers.

Specific objectives:
(i) To change  the  mindset  of  a farmer  over  many  small /un economized  crop farming units  to economical  dairy farming.
(ii) To facilitate sustainable  quantity  and  quality  milk production  by  training  farmers  on  proper dairy  cattle  management and .
(iii) To  assure  the  farmer on  the  availability  of a permanent, dependable milk  market  channel   by  working  on establishing  a milk  processing  plant.

The  project  is  aimed  at  all Dairy  farmers  within  the  Net-work  area . 1135  (53 women) and  later  to  win  the  whole  District  area ready  for the  anticipated milk processing plant. 

METHODOLOGY
A group of 50 dairy  farmers, selected from 10 active groups (5 Participants from each group) will attend the training sessions of the year, which will be done twice per week at a proposed  convenient venue(Mkonongo Hall)  Situated at the centres of District. 25 participants will create  a class. 
Each  of  these trained farmers will bridge knowledge  to their DFG  members, thus Trained Trainers  (TT). To achieve the  net –work  goal, the project is  assumed  to  last  for 5 months  starting from May to early October  2011.
6. From  the  5  trainees  of  each  group,  one  participant will  be  assigned head of the DGF  
    trainers  
     In  this  way out  of  the  50 participants  there will be 5  TOT  heads who will  also  form a follow  up committee   in  Households  to make  sure  that  the  knowledge  has  been briddged   properly  and   is  put   into practice  at  all  Dairy farmers House  Holds . Achievements  will   be reported  to the  organization  in quarterly bases.



TRAINING  CONTENTS.
The  training  will comprise  the  following  topics.
1.	Types  of   records to  be  kept at  House  hold  level and at milk collecting  centres.
2.	Proper and improved animal husbandry 
3.	Access  to different types  of  folder  best for  dairy  cattle.
4.	Types  of  animal feeds
5.	Forage  establishment and  husbandry.
6.	Nutritive  value   at  different  growth  levels
7.	Harvesting  and  preservation  (methods) &  practice)
8.	Sagastive   steaming   rations  (composition)
9.	Feeding  during  dry  period & rainy  season.
10.	Heat detection  in  cows  and  service provision.(Natural or A.l).
11.	Rate  of  conception 
12.	Average  milk  production  in  305 days per lactation 
13.	Calf  Caring   from 3-4  months  age.
14.	Heifer management  to calfing  down 
15.	Diseases  control  in  Dairy  cows.
16.	Dairy  farm records etc.
17.	Hyginec  milk  production .
18.	Dairy  farmer household challenges.


TRAINING  MATERIALS REQUIRED
&#61607;Training materials  will  include  
&#61607;Hand outs prepared  by the  trainer 
&#61607;Booklets  /pamphlets  
&#61607;Some  leaflets  and  some  samples  according  to  topics

APPROACHES&#61607;Train the  beneficiaries  in a participatory  way  followed  by  fortification  of  what  is  totally  new.
&#61607;Use  of  practical  and  theoretical  ideas 
&#61607;Practical  field  exposures  at  Uyole  research  institute ,Langwira farm 
&#61607;Gender  sensitization  with  an  emphasis on  equal  participation  and  sharing  of  responsibilities  and benefits.
&#61607;Create  HIV awareness to dairy farmer  community.


EXPECTED RESULTS:&#61607;Animal  health  improved  
&#61607;Animal  feeds and feeding improved 
&#61607;Average   milk  production  increased  from 7 lit to  14 lit  per  day  in 305 days  lactation  period.
&#61607;Conception  rate   improved  from  63% to 85% through A.l application.  
&#61607;Dairy  animal  breeds  improved  through  A.l  application.
&#61607;Dairy farmers  awareness on  good  and  Economical  Breeds  enhanced.
&#61607;Production  cost  reduced  through proper feeding of dairy cattle and  therefore  profit  Margin  increased.
&#61607;Through cross cutting issues -  (HIV )awareness enhanced  and
-Gender  issues improved.


MONITORING & EVALUATION.
Out  of  five  farmers who attended a training  in feeds and  feeding  of  dairy  cattle, one  the  leader will join  the  co. Leaders  to  form an advisory  committee which   will go  in  every Dairy  farmers  household to inspect or advice  on the  good  Dairy  cattle management  for   best  milk production, feeds and  feeding practices  and other milk  hygienic practices. This  follow up  will be  done  in after  every there  month a report will be sent  to the  organization  for  action .This  practice  has  proved  beneficial  in Vwawa  Dairy cop-society its  management depends  a lot  on it  for   records  and  reaction.

to improve the milk production in quality and quantity and institutional support to the management of Mviwambo in order to establish a dairy factory, resulting in better income for dairy farmers