Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia
The dairy sector in Tunisia is based on small-scale farms, with 81% of the breeders owning less than five cows. On these farms, milk is stored in plastic containers, resulting in post-production losses estimated at 10% in the studied region. Due to high temperatures, the present paper aims to study...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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MDPI
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/134858 |
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| author | Oueslati-Zlaoui, Meriem Dhraief, Mohamed Zied Hilali, Muhi El-Dine Dhehibi, Boubaker Ben Salem, Mondher Oussama, Jebali Rekik, Mourad |
| author_browse | Ben Salem, Mondher Dhehibi, Boubaker Dhraief, Mohamed Zied Hilali, Muhi El-Dine Oueslati-Zlaoui, Meriem Oussama, Jebali Rekik, Mourad |
| author_facet | Oueslati-Zlaoui, Meriem Dhraief, Mohamed Zied Hilali, Muhi El-Dine Dhehibi, Boubaker Ben Salem, Mondher Oussama, Jebali Rekik, Mourad |
| author_sort | Oueslati-Zlaoui, Meriem |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The dairy sector in Tunisia is based on small-scale farms, with 81% of the breeders owning
less than five cows. On these farms, milk is stored in plastic containers, resulting in post-production
losses estimated at 10% in the studied region. Due to high temperatures, the present paper aims to
study the implementation of an innovative solar-powered milk cooling system in Central Tunisia
and assess its profitability for dairy farmers. The methodology is based on a comparison of three
small-scale farm business models: a farm without any milk cooling equipment, a farm using an
innovative milk cooling technology, and a farm using an electrical cooling tank. Results showed
the significance of milk cooling in reducing milk rejection to 0%, leading to a total production of
6400 L per cow by the fifth year. Additionally, milk sales were found to increase due to the premium of
0.010 TND/L for cooled milk paid. In addition, farms utilizing solar-powered milk cooling technology
exhibited superior profitability in terms of financial indicators. This research offers a sustainable
energy solution for milk cooling on small farms, specifically addressing the challenges faced by these
farms located in isolated areas where access to electricity is limited and the availability of milk cooling
equipment is lacking. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace134858 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1348582026-01-23T02:15:10Z Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia Oueslati-Zlaoui, Meriem Dhraief, Mohamed Zied Hilali, Muhi El-Dine Dhehibi, Boubaker Ben Salem, Mondher Oussama, Jebali Rekik, Mourad tunisia solar energy electricity small-scale farms business model milk cooling The dairy sector in Tunisia is based on small-scale farms, with 81% of the breeders owning less than five cows. On these farms, milk is stored in plastic containers, resulting in post-production losses estimated at 10% in the studied region. Due to high temperatures, the present paper aims to study the implementation of an innovative solar-powered milk cooling system in Central Tunisia and assess its profitability for dairy farmers. The methodology is based on a comparison of three small-scale farm business models: a farm without any milk cooling equipment, a farm using an innovative milk cooling technology, and a farm using an electrical cooling tank. Results showed the significance of milk cooling in reducing milk rejection to 0%, leading to a total production of 6400 L per cow by the fifth year. Additionally, milk sales were found to increase due to the premium of 0.010 TND/L for cooled milk paid. In addition, farms utilizing solar-powered milk cooling technology exhibited superior profitability in terms of financial indicators. This research offers a sustainable energy solution for milk cooling on small farms, specifically addressing the challenges faced by these farms located in isolated areas where access to electricity is limited and the availability of milk cooling equipment is lacking. 2023-06-24 2023-11-29T21:11:59Z 2023-11-29T21:11:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/134858 en Open Access application/pdf MDPI Meriem Oueslati-Zlaoui, Mohamed Zied Dhraief, Muhi El-Dine Hilali, Boubaker Dhehibi, Mondher Ben Salem, Jebali Oussama, Mourad Rekik. (24/6/2023). Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia. Energies, 16 (13). |
| spellingShingle | tunisia solar energy electricity small-scale farms business model milk cooling Oueslati-Zlaoui, Meriem Dhraief, Mohamed Zied Hilali, Muhi El-Dine Dhehibi, Boubaker Ben Salem, Mondher Oussama, Jebali Rekik, Mourad Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia |
| title | Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia |
| title_full | Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia |
| title_short | Can Small-Scale Dairy Farm Profitability Increase with the Use of Solar Energy Technology? An Experimental Study in Central Tunisia |
| title_sort | can small scale dairy farm profitability increase with the use of solar energy technology an experimental study in central tunisia |
| topic | tunisia solar energy electricity small-scale farms business model milk cooling |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/134858 |
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