Abstract

This study investigates the influence of dairy cooperatives on the competitiveness of small-scale dairy farmers in Palabana, Chongwe district, Zambia. The focus is on several crucial aspects: increasing milk production, enhancing productivity, improving quality, and boosting market share through cooperative membership. Data was collected from 73 randomly selected cooperative members through semi-structured questionnaires using a convergent parallel mixed-method technique. The quantitative data was examined using descriptive statistics and presented visually, while the qualitative data added contextual richness to these conclusions. The findings revealed a significant rise in milk production among members of the cooperative, even though there was a lack of direct provision of nutritional inputs. This implies that additional elements, such as training and the exchange of knowledge, played a key role in these gains. Furthermore, there was widespread mention of training sessions covering a range of dairy management subjects, which highlights the cooperative's efforts to improve farmers' abilities and increase output. Cooperatives played a crucial role in enhancing the quality of milk by offering valuable advice on managing milk quality, specifically in preventing and treating mastitis. Furthermore, farmers saw enhanced market dominance and financial gains as a result of their participation in cooperatives, which was made possible by greater opportunities to access larger markets and engage in joint sales initiatives. This study finds that cooperatives play a significant role in improving the competitiveness of smallholder dairy farmers by increasing yields, productivity, and market access. However, providing more comprehensive support in areas like animal health, input provision, and continuous training could further enhance these benefits. To maintain sustainable growth and competitiveness in the dairy sector, it is important to emphasize the necessity of ongoing improvement in cooperative initiatives.