MILK-PRODUCTION PROFITABILITY FROM COMPOS T PEN - THE CASE OF THE SENEGAL COTTON AREA

Compost pens are promoted since 1985 in the Senegalese cotton area and they have a good expansion thanks to their diversified products and t heir integrative influence on crop and livestock production. This stud y was conducted on 13 farms from January to may 1994 in the Tambacound a area. It gives more information on the adaptation settings of the co mpost pens and their production and marketing advantages for a peri-ur ban milk belt. Analyses on milk activity show a positive cash flow and opportunity cost pricing of consumed milk and manure gives interestin g margins. The promotion of peri-urban milk belts based on compost pen s has a good future in a post devaluation setting. The sustainability and expansion of the system is greatly influenced by the pricing polic y of cotton by-products by the developement agency promoting the techn ology.