USAID FtF Program Improving Dairy Farmers’ Lives
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A northern zone cattleman is learning about hydroponic forage in San Isidro, Cabanas. |
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USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer (FtF) volunteers have worked with dairy farmers and processors in El Salvador to increase productivity, competitiveness, and food safety. From 2004-2008, 17 volunteers strengthened 13 dairy businesses and associations in El Salvador, benefiting more than 2,100 farmers directly. As a result of these efforts and the key role played by our partners, gross sales increased by US$9.3 million.
El Salvador’s dairy industry is an important economic sector. In 2008, dairy represented 18 percent of agricultural GDP. There are 67,000 cattle farms in country. Dairy generates an estimated 160,000 permanent jobs and 802,000 temporary jobs, representing 26 percent of El Salvador’s agricultural employment. In 2009, the Salvadoran dairy market totaled US$650 million (a 98 percent increase over 2000); 79 percent is produced locally. Cheese imports are growing 7.5 percent annually.
During El Salvador’s dry season, fodder for dairy cattle is scarce. Between November and April, Salvadoran farmers do not have enough rain to grow grass in their fields, and many lack irrigation. For this reason, FtF volunteer Phil Pohl introduced hydroponic forage as alternative for farmers to keep milk production steady throughout the year.
By putting the plants under cover, in trays, the hydroponic system focuses all available moisture on the growing plants, and minimizes the loss through run-off and evaporation. Growing hydroponic fodder uses over 90percent less water than growing fodder in a field, according to researchers at Sandia National Labs, where this technology was perfected. Once the low-cost structure is in place, the hydroponic fodder is cheap, costing only US$0.065/pound (buying corn seed from local markets) to US$0.043/pound (farmers producing their own corn seed) to produce, compared with US$0.30/pound for commercial fodder.
In addition to using less water and lowering production prices, the hydroponic system results in more productive cows. For example, Mr. Montenegro’s first pilot plot cows now average 15.4 bottles of milk each per day, 10 percent more than before. At 30 cents per bottle for the milk his cows produce, Mr. Montenegro now earns an extra $200 each week. As a result of these successes, the Ag Central Coop, which is an association of six large dairy coops in the southern region, is planning to launch a medium-sized hydroponic forage business for their member farmers and surrounding cattle producers.
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