adminLuthando Mapepa
DAIRY farmers in Chipinge are failing to supply enough raw milk to the recently refurbished Dairiboard milk plant in Chipinge town.
This was revealed during the tour of the plant by Chipinge District Administrator, Mr Edgars Seenza and traditional chiefs last Friday.
Speaking during the tour, Mr Seenza said Government would take a multi-sectoral approach that involves many stakeholders such as traditional chiefs to speak with one voice in encouraging more farmers to supply large volumes of milk to the plant.
“We need more milk to achieve the vision of this company to be the major milk processor in the region. This can also fulfil the national aspiration of balancing the import and export ratio, especially of finished goods and not raw materials only.
“We were given this plant in this district, hence let us utilise it with our mandated duties to keep it here. Chiefs and headmen should also be active players in producing more milk for this plant,” said Mr Seenza.
He said raw milk production was set to increase in Chipinge District following the purchase of heifers from South Africa.
“We are also anticipating the increase of raw milk from farmers because some of them recently received loans from Agribank to purchase heifers. We are urging the farmers to utilise the knowledge they obtained from seasoned dairy farmers to maximise production,” he added.
A Dairibord Zimbabwe official who preferred anonymity concurred with the DA’s sentiments that local farmers should up their game and supply more milk to the plant.
He said the Dairibord plant in Chipinge required large volumes of fresh milk because they were focusing on processing sterilised milk.
“The main objective of the company is to increase productivity. We want to expand the market through quality and standard production. The company has stopped the processing of other products to concentrate on steri-milk production. We need more milk from all dairy farmers.
“Dairy farmers have to increase their production for us to achieve our target of being the leading diary processing company in the region.
“Our plant has the potential of dominating the Southern African region if our farmers meet our demands. Productivity therefore needs to be increased in this district considering the fact that the Dairibord plant is located here,” he said.
Online Reporter