No abstract

Bangladesh, like other South Asian countries, has a dairy system characterized by small-scale operations, integrated with crops and other off-farm activities. Dairying is considered a major source of nutrition and income, and offers good opportunities for both farm families and non-farm rural and urban employment. Consequently, several dairy development programmes and models have been implemented for improving the dairy sector. The gradual shift from subsistence to market-oriented dairy units demands more advanced knowledge and dairy technology. However, adequate information about the dairy sector and its technological advancement is scanty, which increases the need to identify opportunities for technical and institutional development. This paper updates information on key changes in the dairy sector and the characterization of dairy production systems in Bangladesh and considers their implications for South Asian countries. Milk demand, measured by per capita consumption, is increasing by 4% per year, which is higher than the growth in milk production (3.6%). This has led to a continuous widening of the gap between milk supply and demand. Institutional support and policies play a major role in narrowing this gap and should therefore be considered in developing strategies for dairy development.

We emphasise that our estimates of the contribution of milk production to global GHG emissions are subject to uncertainty. Part of the uncertainty stems from the choice of the appropriate methods for estimating emissions at the level of the individual animal.

The development of the dairy industry plays an important role in the economy of Middle Eastern countries. Judged by its growth rate, the dairy industry is viewed as one of the most progressive food industries in the Middle East. During the early 1970s, countries established executive programs to promote dairy farming; the major objective was to attain self-sufficiency in milk production. A massive investment was set up for importing top class cattle, complying with top industry operating standards, and a simultaneous introduction of the latest technology in processing, packaging, and distributing. Milk production has grown tremendously at rates of 6.6% and 4.9% in Syria and Saudi Arabia, respectively, between 2002 and 2007, which resulted in these nations being almost self-sufficient. Regarding Jordan, milk production has not yet met this target. An excessive growth in the dairy industry is quite noticeable in this region with an expanding capacity for exports. The aim of this study is to show the most recent trends and future prospects of the dairy industries in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. It also attempts to investigate the drivers for the development of milk production, consumption, and trade in the region.