An Investigation into the Development of a Customised Model for Successful Smallholder Dairy Farming in Gauteng

Abstract

Smallholder dairy production not only supports household nutrition but also stimulates food sustainability and rural economy through diversified agricultural production and employment opportunities in the dairy value chain. Despite the growing demand for dairy and the government's initiative for rural development as constituted by the National Development Plan, the prevalence of smallholder dairy production in Gauteng is not apparent. This research study aimed to investigate all the factors preventing smallholder dairy farmers to produce optimally, identify the success criteria for successful dairy farming, and investigate best practices of developing countries to make recommendations for a customised smallholder dairy farming model in Gauteng. An exploratory qualitative research approach was followed to gain insight into the success criteria for dairy farming and the perceptions of role players in the dairy chain regarding smallholder dairy development. A focus group comprising six industry experts were used to establish the success criteria for smallholder dairy farming. Ten individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with role players involved in smallholder development. This study forms the basis for further studies to test the viability of the development model for smallholder dairy farmers.