Online Reporter
EACH year, World Milk Day presents an opportunity to recognise the vital role milk plays in nutrition, livelihoods and economic development.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating Women Farmers,” is particularly significant to Dairibord Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited, as they honour the women whose resilience, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit continue to strengthen Zimbabwe’s dairy sector and contribute meaningfully to national food security.
Women are increasingly becoming the backbone of agricultural production in many communities and dairy farming is no exception.
Across Zimbabwe, women dairy farmers, both commercial and small- scale, are playing a transformative role in sustaining household incomes, improving nutrition and strengthening rural economies.
Dairibord recognises that empowering women within the dairy value chain is not only the right thing to do but a strategic imperative for building a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable industry.
As Zimbabwe’s leading dairy processor, Dairibord remains deeply committed to supporting farmers through partnerships that improve productivity, strengthen livelihoods, and expand growth opportunities.
Through their milk procurement ecosystem, they continue to work closely with dairy farmers, many of whom are women, to enhance access to stable markets, technical support, and sustainable farming practices.
Their support extends across both commercial and smallholder dairy farmers, with deliberate efforts to strengthen the participation of women in dairy production.
The company prides itself on being a processor that actively supports small-scale dairy producers, with over 530 farmers in the network, 40 percent of whom are women.
Through partnerships with 13 milk collection centres across the country, Dairibord’s Milk Supply Development Unit offers extension support programmes.
Its key pillars of support include veterinary services, feed formulation, herd growth through artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis and sustainable agriculture and alternative energies.
Women farmers are increasingly equipped with knowledge and resources to improve herd management, milk quality, animal nutrition and productivity.
By creating dependable off-take arrangements and consistent market access, Dairibord helps to provide income certainty, an important enabler for women-led households and farming enterprises.
“For many women in rural communities, dairy farming is more than a source of income; it is a pathway to economic empowerment,” said Dairibord group chief executive, Ms Mercy Ndoro. “Income generated through milk production supports children’s education, household nutrition, healthcare and broader community well-being,” she added.
Through their value chain interventions, Dairibord continues to contribute to strengthening livelihoods and creating sustainable economic participation for women.
The milk processor actively engages in strategic value-chain partnerships. A collaborative initiative with Farmfriends Netherlands is aimed at empowering smallholder dairy producers where farmers are capacitated through the distribution ofin-calf heifers.
Furthermore, this partnership has deployed targeted capital infrastructure by installing one-hectare irrigation systems for 10 selected small-scale dairy farmers, directly enhancing fodder security and localised yield productivity.
A partnership with Mobility for Africa to tackle the crucial “last mile” challenge of milk transportation is also in place. This partnership provides battery-operated tricycles, capable of carrying a 400-kilogramme payload.
These electric tricycles are vital for efficiently moving milk to either Dairibord’s processing factory or designated milk collection centres.
What’s more, they are solar-charged, promoting a sustainable and accessible solution for dairy communities. Downstream, the group supports over 800 independent vendors, 40 percent also being female.
By prioritising women and youth- led models and leveraging strategic partnerships, Dairibord has successfully expanded small-scale enterprise opportunities and deepened market penetration.
The company’s marketing services executive, Ms Ruyarashe Matambo, outlined how Dairibord’s efforts in dairy farming are closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are particularly aligned to SDG 5:Gender Equality, by supporting women’s economic participation and empowerment within agriculture; SDG 2: Zero Hunger, through strengthening milk production and improving nutritional access; SDG 1: No Poverty, by supporting sustainable livelihoods and income generation; and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through inclusive participation in agricultural value chains and rural economic development.
“In addition, Dairibord’s continued investment in local milk production contributes to SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production, promoting sustainable sourcing and supporting domestic agricultural resilience.”
According to statistics from the Dairy Services Unit, Zimbabwe’s raw milk production surged to a 23-year high in 2025, primarily driven by aggressive recapitalisation and strategic herd management from both the Government and the private sector.
Commercial production reached 121.8 million litres, marking a 6.2 percent increase from 114.7 million litres in 2024.
“As we commemorate World Milk Day, we celebrate the women farmers whose hard work sustains our dairy ecosystem and nourishes communities across Zimbabwe.
Their contribution extends far beyond milk production; they are entrepreneurs, providers, caregivers, and changemakers driving progress within our agricultural sector,” Mrs Ndoro concluded.
Peter Tanyanyiwa