DAIRY Gold Limited (DGL), an associate company of the Trade Kings Group, has launched two milk collection centres targeting small scale farmers in Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi districts of Central Province.

Group public relations and corporate affairs manager Bridget Kambobe says DGL envisions that the additional milk collection centres will improve market access for small scale producers to the emerging urban markets.

In a statement, Kambobe said the new centres were aimed at contributing to the improvement of milk productivity, profitability and market accessibility for the farmers.

“In its continued efforts to contribute to the transformation of the dairy industry in the country including empowerment of small-scale dairy farmers, Dairy Gold Limited, an associate company of the Trade Kings Group has launched milk collection centres targeting small scale farmers in the Central Province. The two centres which are stationed in Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi are aimed to contribute to the improvement of milk productivity, profitability and market accessibility for the farmers. DGL first launched its state-of-the-art milk processing plant over two years ago creating an opportunity of choice for the customers stimulating positive competition thereby reshaping the dairy industry in the country,” she said.

“The new plant is a part of the overall expansion strategy that the Trade Kings Group has embarked on. DGL has focused on capitalizing on opportunities regardless of the challenges to contribute to the transformation of the industry and in responding to customer demands for affordable and quality fresh milk.”

Kambobe said the opening of the two centres was part of the company’s commitment to contributing to the growth and transformation of the dairy industry.

“The opening of the two milk centres in Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi is line with what we committed to action as part our contribution to the growth and transformation of the dairy industry which include: a. Small scale farmers empowerment – the value chain study on milk availability, collection patterns and practices and resource requirements for the small-scale farmers indicate several challenges. DGL will support the farmers through training and empowerment. It will also equip the farmers through various partnerships to contribute to mitigation of the identified challenges. This will include working with milk co-operatives in various parts of the province,” she said.

“b. Innovation- DGL has invested in state-of-the-art technology suitable to produce fresh milk as a very sensitive product which include cooling through the value chain. Transparency in the dairy industry’s food supply chain is key to gaining consumer trust from sustainable sources to ingredients and processing claims. DGL is committed to maintaining its drive and focus to global quality standards. c. Promotion of localised sourcing of milk. It is DGL’s endeavour to collaborate with sector players with an overall aim of introducing professionalism in the dairy industry whilst ensuring processors have consistent quantity and quality of milk supply throughout the year.”

Kambobe said DGL envisions that the additional milk collection centres will improve market access for small scale producers to the emerging urban markets.

“DGL envisions that the additional milk collection centres that have been set up will improve market access for small scale producers to the emerging urban markets. This will include improvement in the delivery of milk currently hampered by long distances from the farms to milk collection centres and extremely limited cooling capacity. DGL is confident that this will turn stimulate employment and reduce poverty amongst small scale farmers. With the ever-changing landscape of dairy farming, Trade Kings Group through DGL believes firmly in the potential of the milk industry and remains committed to contributing to the strengthening of the domestic market through commercialization and business viability,” said Kambobe.