Achmad Fadillah, a PhD student under the SmartInAg project at the Business Economics Group of Wageningen University, won the Best PhD Presentation Prize at the International ISESSAH Conference held in Helsinki, Finland (13 – 15 June 2023).
His presentation delved into an empirical analysis focused on the impact of milk quality parameters, dairy farm characteristics, and practices on the economic performance of smallholder dairy farms. The findings revealed two significant results: firstly, improved milk quality and healthier udder status, as indicated by lower somatic cell counts (SCC), were associated with increased gross margins and technical efficiency in smallholder dairy farms. Secondly, the provision of mastitis control and treatment training for smallholder dairy farmers was linked to a notable enhancement in economic farm performance.