Co-operatives are playing a key role in helping rural communities in Pakistan raise themselves out of poverty. In the Vehari District the Department of Co-operatives of Punjab has started a Milk Value Chain Project, which involved setting up co-operatives to empower livestock farmers. The project was designed to address the increase in food prices and improve productivity and quality within the dairy sector.
The main beneficiaries were small livestock farmers along with women and children. Initially envisioned in 2010-2011, the programme was implemented in 2014. As part of the project, the Department of Co-operatives helped set up 100 dairy co-operatives. Each co-operative had around 30 farmer members, ten of which were women. All co-operatives were monitored for one year. They were also provided with the necessary equipment, including chillers and fodder machines. Farmer members received training in breeding, milk testing and quality control. Each co-operative received 30 cows and had access to veterinary services.
To better market their products all co-operatives formed district federations with milk collection points in different places. They also established a dairy shop that sells quality milk at lower rate than the market.
The project was delivered in collaboration with Plan International, an international development organisation, which provided financial support. The Department of Co-operatives helped setting up the co-operatives as well as in devising the marketing strategy, and monitoring and evaluating the co-operatives.
A third party organisation conducted a study to assess the impact of the project. The evaluation concludes that overall the programme had helped train 400 women in animal keeping. The project helped dairy farmers correct key weaknesses milk marketing and obtain better prices. It has also improved the quality of milk available for consumers. By enabling women to become members of the co-operative the programme has helped tackle gender discrimination. Following the success of the pilot project, the initiative will be replicated in other districts. A milk processing plant will also be set up in the Vehari District.
Photo: Co-operative dairy shop in the Vehari District
