Malawi Milk Producers Association – Mmpa supported and participated in “the Pass-On a cow Ceremony” at Mpalo dairy cooperative, Ntchisi District. Pass- On programme is where an association or project or organization buys and give animals to the first farmer beneficiaries as a loan. The first beneficiary takes care of the animal until it calves down, and give a cow or heifer to the next beneficiary as loan repayment. Before a farmer receives a cow needs to construct kraal, plant pasture and trained. This program has worked very well in smallholder dairy. 80% of the dairy cows and farmers we have now are out of this program. Mpalo dairy cooperative on this day passed on 4 dairy heifers bringing 4 new farmers on board.

In his speech, The Programs manager for MMPA, congratulated the new farmers, and advised them to take good care of the animals received so that the next beneficiaries should also benefit. The aim of the program is to self-sustain and grow dairy sector from the little received from donors and Associations. Furthermore, the manager advised all the dairy farmers and chiefs to be alert as the cases of cattle theft among dairy farmers has increased in th central region.

The ceremony was also attended by chiefs and government officials from Ntchisi district