Place of Food Safety in Evolving Pro-Poor Dairy Policy in East and West Africa
In East and West Africa, most milk is produced by smallholders who sell it in informal markets. The authors summarize changes in overall development policy that are bringing attention to this previously ignored sector and stimulating a reevaluation of dairy policy. They argue that current dairy poli...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
CIRAD
2007-01-01
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| Series: | Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://revues.cirad.fr/index.php/REMVT/article/view/9967 |
| Summary: | In East and West Africa, most milk is produced by smallholders who sell it in informal markets. The authors summarize changes in overall development policy that are bringing attention to this previously ignored sector and stimulating a reevaluation of dairy policy. They argue that current dairy policy, derived from developed countries and based on industrial systems, proved unworkable or ineffective as evidenced by the predominance of the informal sector and the high levels of milk-borne diseases. The role of food safety in dairy policy and its potential to constrain the shift of policy to a more propoor direction are discussed. The authors review the literature on milk safety in Africa, where high levels of pathogens and other hazards in milk and milk products are reported from both the formal and informal dairy sectors. Case studies that are presented suggest that participatory, risk-based policies may offer an opportunity to increase both dairy safety and benefits to the poor. The authors also show how policy can be positively influenced using examples from East and West Africa. |
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| ISSN: | 0035-1865 1951-6711 |