Farm Africa Arabia cattle crop projects
Recent international management, restructuring and consulting services of organic and sustainable agricultural projects and land farm investments in Africa (Tanzania, Nigeria) and Saudi Arabia
Consult and analyse the set up of a dairy farm management investment in Tanzania, Eastern Africa
Unfortunately, the agricultural investors from the construction industry made many mistakes, see photo descriptions. Not the first time that farm investors from outside business focus very much on machinery, concrete and building investments, but too little on high qualified personal, well trained staff, good planning and management set up even if high value investments done.
For consulting and analysing it was stated to keep up to 2,000 HF dairy cows with 35 liters milk per day and dairy cow as herd average on 1,000 ha of farmland. Thus it would become the largest agricultural dairy cattle farm investment in Tanzania. However, Tanzania has an average of 7 liters of milk per dairy cow*day only. Thus, 25 liters would be realistic here at the beginning, but only if essential elements of professional herd management are implemented which was almost completely missing (crash prognosis likely).
For example of the 1,000 hectares farmland investment purchased as assumed and on paper stated, only 600 hectares of poor sandy soil quality were really usable, of which only 50 hectares could be watered during the dry season but first to finish a big investment in pumps and water dam reservoir for it. Thus, the essential basis of sufficient own high quality forage production missing. Later on the farm ended up to buy a lot of lowest quality “hay” (quality as straw) for high cost and suffering cows.
The overall concept missing, the umbrella view for the whole structure and consequences in later daily work, like to balance: acreage - forage production - forage volume and quality - number of dairy cows - dairy cow performance.
The "good" thing about such foreign investors and staff on site never having seen a real working dairy farm is: That the many mistakes and weak points in the development phase and the later effects are hardly known. Thus be lulled in a false sense of security.
For consulting and analysing it was stated to keep up to 2,000 HF dairy cows with 35 liters milk per day and dairy cow as herd average on 1,000 ha of farmland. Thus it would become the largest agricultural dairy cattle farm investment in Tanzania. However, Tanzania has an average of 7 liters of milk per dairy cow*day only. Thus, 25 liters would be realistic here at the beginning, but only if essential elements of professional herd management are implemented which was almost completely missing (crash prognosis likely).
For example of the 1,000 hectares farmland investment purchased as assumed and on paper stated, only 600 hectares of poor sandy soil quality were really usable, of which only 50 hectares could be watered during the dry season but first to finish a big investment in pumps and water dam reservoir for it. Thus, the essential basis of sufficient own high quality forage production missing. Later on the farm ended up to buy a lot of lowest quality “hay” (quality as straw) for high cost and suffering cows.
The overall concept missing, the umbrella view for the whole structure and consequences in later daily work, like to balance: acreage - forage production - forage volume and quality - number of dairy cows - dairy cow performance.
The "good" thing about such foreign investors and staff on site never having seen a real working dairy farm is: That the many mistakes and weak points in the development phase and the later effects are hardly known. Thus be lulled in a false sense of security.
Analyse and consult farm concept subtropical crop cattle livestock land investment in Nigeria
West Africa
The starting point for the consultation from July to November 2019 as an agricultural expert advisor were among others well-known mistakes in arable farming such as extreme soil erosion, which in general can be found too often in the country. It can be avoided with a planning proposal from the consultancy to avoid future soil erosion: With multi-year forage production for ruminants alternating with AgroForestry elements and especially with a variety of subtropical fruit tree species, this is easily feasible. Agriculture with yam and cassava as well as silage maize and field vegetable cultivation only possible on flat fields, partly with erosion protection strips or in terraces.
The bottleneck of this planning and advice project was the purchase of high-quality resources, especially seeds and plantlings, but also fertilizers, pesticides and veterinary medicinal products for subtropical agriculture. For example sourcing of cassava, cassava, yam, sweet potatoes, peanuts, vegetables in the field and greenhouses, especially types and seeds for fodder cultivation and high-quality subtropical Fruit tree species and oil palms with new genetics. Intensive research and on-site visits to suppliers and research stations in the country were conducted successfully.
Subtropical animal husbandry is characterized by poor performance. Cattle husbandry is possible by means of zebu cross-breeding heat tolerance, but only domestic genetics have tolerances to extreme disease pressure, often vector-transmitted. Special herd management, breeding strategy and husbandry is required but feasible to be proposed.
However, the overall crux of the matter is: hiring really well qualified and motivated staff who also reliably assume responsibility. Unfortunately, it could not be conveyed that this also means higher wages with incentive systems. The relationship between the economic yield or loss or value of the machines and the possible amount of damage was completely out of the question in the further development of the company. Saved at the wrong end.
The bottleneck of this planning and advice project was the purchase of high-quality resources, especially seeds and plantlings, but also fertilizers, pesticides and veterinary medicinal products for subtropical agriculture. For example sourcing of cassava, cassava, yam, sweet potatoes, peanuts, vegetables in the field and greenhouses, especially types and seeds for fodder cultivation and high-quality subtropical Fruit tree species and oil palms with new genetics. Intensive research and on-site visits to suppliers and research stations in the country were conducted successfully.
Subtropical animal husbandry is characterized by poor performance. Cattle husbandry is possible by means of zebu cross-breeding heat tolerance, but only domestic genetics have tolerances to extreme disease pressure, often vector-transmitted. Special herd management, breeding strategy and husbandry is required but feasible to be proposed.
However, the overall crux of the matter is: hiring really well qualified and motivated staff who also reliably assume responsibility. Unfortunately, it could not be conveyed that this also means higher wages with incentive systems. The relationship between the economic yield or loss or value of the machines and the possible amount of damage was completely out of the question in the further development of the company. Saved at the wrong end.
Consult and lead organic farming investment in the sand soil desert of Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Extreme conditions in the desert, often not sustainable resource use, especially large scale forage crops such as alfalfa with hardly any groundwater reserves left. Drip irrigation of field vegetables and greenhouses on smaller area - here both organic farming - organic horticulture is more reasonable for the sandy desert soils of Saudi Arabia and in general for the Middle East countries.
Let us clarify objectives, approach and options to fulfil your R&D project, farm management, and consulting need.
I look forward to working with and for you!
Best wishes, Guido Haas
g.haas@agrarhaas.de
