Ephraim’s Story: Palabana on the Move

Ephraim Bindewinda is a member of the Palabana Dairy Cooperative (PDC) and the secretary of the Milk Collection Centers from Zambia’s Eastern Province. To reach the PDC’s milk collection facility, dairy farmers must travel 2 to 17 km over rough, mostly unpaved roads.

Prior to WBR and the PDC partnered to make Buffalo Bicycles available to dairy farmers, milk was carried by hand or by wheelbarrow to the dairy collection center. “Before the bicycles, my farm hands walked the milk in a wheelbarrow for an hour. There was 30% failure getting the milk to the dairy before spoilage. Today, with the coming of the bikes,100% success. Ahh, relief!” exclaimed Ephraim Bindewinda.

Ephraim and his farm hands Kenneth and Witness milk the 20 cows twice a day, getting about 75-100 liters of milk in the morning and 60-75 liters in the afternoon. The majority of PDC members own fewer than 20 cows. Most, in fact, own between 5 and 10, making Ephraim’s milk output quite significant. Cycling is much faster than walking, so Ephraims’ milk stays fresher on the trip, with less spoilage and waste. The Buffalo Bicycle’s large rear-capacity rack and sturdy frame enable farmers to transport more milk than they could on foot or by wheelbarrow. This means that Ephraim’s income potential has increased substantially.

Ephraim as a diligent business man has even inspired his neighbor Inoge, who wants to start having cows and owning a dairy business of her own.  Inoge tells us she is, “here to learn about dairy farming. Ephraim is teaching me first hand.”  She plans to visit Ephraim again at the MCC and knows he will be there in his role as Secretary.  “We will get in touch – on Wednesday.”

Luke Siwale, is Ephraim’s other neighbor and a fellow dairy farmer who owns 15 cows. For almost two years Luke has used a Buffalo Bicycle, learning from Ephraim. Before this he said, “I had another bicycle brand but these are better because they last. The other one cost much less but only lasted one year. Every few months it needed replacement parts. The Buffalo takes much longer before a repair is needed. By the time we need spare parts, we have already saved. So, this is profit for us.”

From 2011 to 2014, dairy farmers bought 281 Buffalo Bicycles through the PDC’s employee purchase program. Since purchasing their bicycles, dairy farmers have made more deliveries, transported more milk each trip, reduced spoilage and increased income. 95% of farmers say the Buffalo Bicycles have improved their lives. Ephraim now owns 7 Buffalo Bicycles, 5 are for his children to go to school. He has also organized the spare parts program at Palabana MCC ensuring all farmers are able to transport their supplies spoil-free. 

“Buffalo Bicycles were a relief to us. We cherish them. Without bikes it was Hell!”