The Extent of Milk Losses in Rain and Dry Seasons along the Milk Supply Chain in Tanzania

Charles Byalugaba Lugamara, Justin Kalist Urassa and Goodluck Dastan Massawe

Issue :

ASRIC Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2024 v5-i1

Journal Identifiers :

ISSN : 2795-3572

EISSN : 2795-3572

Published :

2024-12-30

Abstract

The study determined the extent of cattle milk losses at the various nodes of the milk supply chain in Tanzania in two seasons and between regions. A cross-sectional research design was used to collect data in both the dry and wet seasons (June 2021 to September 2022) from milk producers, milk collectors, milk processors, retailers and hotels/restaurants/milk bars. Paired sample t-test results show statistically significant differences in milk losses between dry (7.8%) and wet (12.3%) seasons, p=0.000 at the households; dry (3.5%) and wet (1.6%) seasons, p=0.006 for mtindi/sour milk at the hotels/restaurants; dry (0.5%; 0.4%) and wet (0.02%; 0.05%) for fresh milk (UHT) and yoghurt respectively, p<0.05 at the retailers; as well as Wilcoxon signed-rank test show significant differences in milk losses between dry (3%) and wet (6.8%) seasons, p=0.014 at the processors. In addition, a one-way ANOVA shows a statistically significant variations of milk losses across the studied regions (p=0.000) of fresh milk at the households; p=0.018, p=0.005; p=0.000 for fresh milk, mtindi and yoghurt respectively at the retailers. Therefore, awareness creation of the milk supply chain actors is needed on the magnitude of the losses and the likely costs. Enforcement of laws and policies will be helpful to minimise post-harvest milk losses. Keywords: Milk losses, post-harvest, milk supply chain, wet and dry seasons, Tanzania

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