Economic study of dairy production in the area around Bamako (Mali)

Abstract

The cost of fresh milk production in three different dairy production systems was estimated from data collected from 30 herds in the Bamako area (Mali) at regular intervals between July 1989 and June 1990. In the intensive dairy production system (“concessions rurales”) milk production is estimated to cost between 110 and 195 F CFA/l while in the extensive village system (“système villageois”) and the “parcs communaux”, the cost of production is estimated respectively between 15 and 76 F CFA/l and 62 and 408 F CFA/l. Feeding, transportation and veterinary care constituted the major cost components. The optimum dairy herd sizes at which milk production is profitable are estimated at 8,9 and 25 respectively in the communal herds, the extensive village system and the intensive, peri-urban systems. At the producer price levels of between 100 and 250 F CFA before the devaluation of the CFA franc, milk production was generally considered a profitable entreprise with net profit of up to 106 F CFA/l possible. It is considered that the recent devaluation of the CFA franc will encourage domestic dairy production to respond to the additional demand created by reduced dairy imports.