The cow, the Peul and the manager

The background to the international milk market, and the effects of imports by developing countries of surpluses from the developed world, either as food aid or as subsidized imports are reviewed. Investment in powdered milk processing factories, often by international aid programmes, means that use of imported powdered milk is generally cheaper than locally-produced milk, which is hindered by low yields and transport difficulties. However this is contributing to the destruction of dairy farming in certain countries, particularly by nomads in the Sahel region, among whom it is traditional and the only means of making a living from the arid land. A case study is made of the Peul nomads in Senegal, where powdered milk imports are high. Nestle has had a factory in Senegal since 1961, and since 1990 has been trying to substitute locally-produced milk for imported milk for its products. However, the main problem has been in supply, and in the low prices paid to producers, which correspond to the low import prices. (CAB Abstract)