Milk Processing in Rural Areas to Support Dairying in Developing Countries

Postcolonial collaboration in dairying between developed and developing countries has been taking place for 30 yr. The result of that collaboration has not always been successful. North – South transfer of dairying systems often leads to “development ruins”. For people in developing countries, milk is a valuable supplement but not a basic food. Nevertheless, milk processing may contribute to building up a rural industry based on agriculture. The rural location of such an industry provides additional working and earning opportunities and counteracts rural exodus. To avoid expensive, artificial cooling, and road transports, the collection radius for milk should be small. This leads to decentralized milk processing in small rural plants. The simple equipment of such plants should be manufactured in the developing country itself. Thus, milk processing may promote development of other sectors of domestic industry and become less dependent on imported equipment, which is difficult to maintain and replace. Plants and equipment have to be adapted to the special conditions in a developing country as well as the products. They should have good shelf-life, be marketable without artificial cooling, and be within reach of people with modest purchase power.