EVERY DROP COUNTS

Women Farmers Transform Milk into Business Gold

BY MERCY NAMFUKWE

FROM fresh milk to , Mweka Women Cooperative in Lusaka’s Makeni area is demonstrating how value addition can transform agriculture into a profitable business venture. Through dairy processing, the women-led cooperative is turning milk from their own cows into Lacto Sour Milk and ilya Yogi drinks, creating income opportunities while contributing to Zambia’s food security.

The cooperative’s journey reflects the growing potential of small-scale farmers who are moving beyond selling raw agricultural products and embracing agro-processing as a pathway to sustainable growth. By adding value to dairy and crop products, Mweka Women Cooperative is proving that farming can be a viable business capable of improving household livelihoods, creating employment opportunities and opening up new market opportunities.

At a time when the agriculture sector continues to emphasize value addition as a key driver of economic growth, Mweka Women Cooperative is showing how farmers can increase the profitability of their enterprises by processing what they produce. Instead of depending only on the sale of raw milk, the women have developed finished products that are reaching consumers through formal markets.

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Read full article in the August issue https://www.agricoopnews.com/e-publications

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