Echki Sutu farm goat management
Managing and supporting market access for goat products
DescriptionOverview of the initiative and its approach.
This good practice is based on the integration of such basic digital technologies as Excel sheets and Instant Messaging Platforms for the small-scale management of dairy goat breeding, milk production and processing, and sales operations of farms. All goats on the farm are tagged, and each goat is listed with an individual dossier in an Excel file. The dossier provides details of the pedigree of the animal, including date of birth and slaughter, the identity of the parents and grandparents, productivity levels, when the goats were bought or sold, etc., facilitating the prediction of what can be expected from a new-born that can then be compared with the actual output. The farmer can use the data to calculate how much feed is consumed by a single goat and how much milk they produce. The production and sale of dairy products are also recorded daily in Excel. Products are promoted and sold through Instagram and WhatsApp.
TechnologyTechnology used by the initiative.
By maintaining electronic spreadsheets for each goat, farms making use of this good practice gather data that supports basic analytics, such as calculations and predictions of what can be expected from a new-born goat, allowing the farmer to identify his/her best goats. The Excel file holds records of how much feed each goat consumes and how much milk it gives, supporting planning and decision-making. The production and sale of dairy products are also recorded daily in Excel, and the farmer’s milk products are marketed and sold via Instagram and WhatsApp.
TargetUsers, groups, or communities targeted by the initiative.
The main users of this good practice are the farmers managing and employed on the Echki Sutu farm in Kyrgyzstan.
Business modelHow the initiative delivers and sustains its value.
The implementation of these simple spreadsheets and social media tools is free of charge to the farmer.
ImpactThe observed or intended effects of the initiative.
Echki Sutu farm received support from USAID Kyrgyz Republic for the procurement of modern pasteurization equipment and a cheese press, increasing production volume and extending the shelf life of dairy products. The combination of these technologies with investments has expanded the production capacity of the dairy farm and has led to an increase in sales to Globus, a local supermarket chain.
PartnersOrganizations and stakeholders involved in the initiative.
USAID
Four BettersThe FAO Four Betters supported by the initiative.
Better nutrition
