New Zealand Aid Programme : Africa Design Mission – April 2012

NZ agricultural experts visiting a commercial dairy farm in Lobatse, Botswana

A design mission of NZ agriculture experts recently undertook a 3 week mission to Zambia, Tanzania and Botswana to explore development and commercial opportunities for New Zealand in the beef and dairy sectors.  The mission delegation included the High Commission's Africa Aid Programme Manager, Ms Thandiwe Moyana-Munzara, and was led by Mr Bruce Trangmar with representatives from New Zealand’s agricultural industry: Mr Dennis Radford from Agriculture Services Limited, Mr Peter Davey from Waikato Innovation Park and Mr Phil McKenzie from LandCorp.

In the three countries, meetings were held with a diverse range of stakeholders in the beef and dairy sectors including: government, private sector, donors, multilaterals and smallholder farmers to outline the development opportunities and to understand challenges in the beef and dairy sectors.  New Zealand areas of expertise that may be relevant and applicable in the African context include, but are not limited to:

• On and off-farm technologies and practices
• Agribusiness marketing and procurement
• Strategic governance and organisational development
• Vocational training systems development – policy and delivery frameworks
• Vocational training institute capability
• Human capability building – at the dairy and beef sector and/or organisation levels
• Livestock and plant genetics
• Environmental monitoring equipment and systems
• Livestock management systems
• Livestock health products and technologies
• Effluent management systems and technologies
• Quality Control
• Food safety
• Biosecurity
• Food processing systems (dairy and beef) design and construct