Dairy Production Value Chains of Northern and Southern Delta Egypt Governorates: Role of Milk Collection Centers (Mccs)

The study was conducted to analyze value chains integrated traditional and upgraded dairy production in Faiyum and Al-Sharqia governorates of Upper and lower Delta region of Egypt to identify role of Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) in providing buffalo milk at reasonable prices for consumers as well as improves income for producers. Socio-economic characteristics performance showed that most producers in the study sample were male. Education was elementary to deal with upgraded value chains where about 78.18% of producers had high education level. By the same substance, 93.64% of producers of upgraded value chain represented membership of cooperative groups. Dairy supply chain amounted 81.02% and 79.45%, 13.45% and 4.34%, 5.53% and 16.21% for sold raw milk, home consumption and processed milk of traditional and upgraded value chains, respectively. The MCCs saved around 11.10 LE for 1 kg of buffalo raw milk price at farm level delivered to the consumer compared to raw milk prices at dairy shops or even at local markets of traditional value chains, consequently adequate prices of processed product in terms of product quality. Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) conveyed evidence prove utility of MCCs to approach highest return, accounted 4.2 LE for buffalo milk produced under upgraded value chain. Animal feed afforded by MCCs however concerned essential to reduce costs burden, impacted positively producers` income. Extension service has been reported from missions of MCCs raise awareness among producers, link decision maker to participants in developing process regarding quality and marketing of dairy products.