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NESTLE Zimbabwe will import 200 heifers for small-scale farmers by the end of next month to boost raw milk production.
Each heifer is expected to cost US$2 000.
An initial 20 farmers in Chitomborwizi, Mashonaland West province are expected to receive the heifers under the company’s dairy empowerment scheme.
Nestle Zimbabwe spokesperson Mr Farai Munetsi said the company would import another 200 heifers before year-end.
“We shall give out 200 cows that are already in-calves to farmers, and we have agreed flexible payment terms of 10 percent deposit and the balance in three years without any interest,” said Mr Munetsi in an interview at the recent 56th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
“This is our way of empowering local communities because they can sell the milk in their communities or to anyone until the volumes are large enough to commercialise.”
At least 4 000 litres of milk make up the desired volumes for sale at a commercial level.
One heifer produces between 15 litres and 20 litres a day depending on the breed and feeding scheme.
While Nestle does not discriminate on the quantities farmers may bring in for sale, the company encourages them to team up in order to achieve larger volumes. That way, farmers cut costs and enjoy economies of scale.
The Nestle dairy empowerment scheme is a ten-year programme launched in 2011 to distribute 4 000 heifers to dairy farmers, particularly in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West provinces.
Under the programme, Nestle trains farmers in hygiene, rearing and feeding among other things.
Mr Munetsi said this would ensure farmers produced quality milk under hygienic standards required for food handling and processing.
“We realised that without training, farmers will not produce up to standard and volumes may be low; so, last year we were focusing on training farmers on the practical handling of dairy cows,” he said.
Without providing figures on production and sales volumes, Mr Munetsi said business was tough in the first quarter of 2015 due to low disposable incomes.
But Nestle expects things to look up in the second half of 2015 on the back of improved production and efficiencies.
Nestle will by the end of June complete refurbishment of its creamers and milk powder plant at the Southerton factory in Harare.
The global food and beverages giant is headquartered in Switzerland.
Online Reporter