An Island icon – the Jersey cow – is helping to change lives overseas through an initiative to support farming in poor communities.
The Dairy for Development programme, run by Jersey Overseas Aid, has been successful in Nepal, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda and Ethiopia, in tackling poverty, improving nutrition and creating long-term economic opportunity by exporting cows to support agriculture.
Jersey has a strong international reputation for farming expertise, with the famed Jersey cow valued for being easy to care for, having longer productive lives and their resilience in different climates, with the milk being high quality and rich in nutrients.
The Jersey cow uses less natural resources and produces a smaller carbon footprint than other breeds, making it ideal to crossbreed with indigenous cattle.
International Development Minister Carolyn Labey visited Zambia in May, during which she presented the Jersey Herd Competition trophy to Mrs Zewelanji Mbao at her farm in Chongwe.
Deputy Labey shared that this was particularly personal to her as one of the names etched on the trophy is that of her great uncle, Charles John Labey, who won the trophy in 1915.
The herd competition is an initiative supported by Zambia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, relief agency ADRA, the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society and the Herdbook Society of Zambia, which aims to promote Jersey cattle among smallholders and improve dairy management. Zambia is also due to host the African Jersey Forum in 2026.
Deputy Labey said: “[Dairy for Development] is having a huge impact because it gives nutrition to small holder dairy farmers and to their families, which in turn enables the children to attend school, because they’re nourished, improving their circumstances.
“I think it’s always good to speak to the beneficiaries of our projects firsthand. It can be incredibly humbling, but to hear their story, how our projects are helping them, lifting them out of poverty, enabling their children to go to school to be educated, to gain better futures, is something that Jersey should be incredibly proud of.”
She explained that in JOA’s strategic plan, the focus is on three themes; dairy for development, financial inclusion, and conservation livelihoods.
“We bring our expertise from Durrell, and we rely on our finance sector to advise us on the financial inclusion side of things, and it is a really good thing, the fact that we can focus on not just providing services for the wealthy, we can also now provide financial services for the poor,” the minister added.
See more about Jersey’s International Development programmes here
