Online Reporter
Lonster Mutata
Herald Correspondent
THE dairy industry is poised for significant expansion as Government and industry stakeholders intensify efforts to close a national milk supply deficit of nearly 100 million litres annually and position the country as a competitive regional exporter.
Addressing the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers’ 12th annual general meeting in Harare yesterday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the dairy sector had become one of the country’s agricultural success stories.
The event was held under the theme, “Driving innovation, efficiency, sustainability and inclusive dairy farming”.
National milk production has grown considerably from just under 17 million litres in 2017 to 155 million litres last year, reflecting sustained investment and policy support aimed at revitalising the industry.
Minister Masuka said commercial dairy producers contributed 122 million litres, while household production accounted for 33 million litres, demonstrating the increasing role of smallholder farmers in strengthening food security and rural livelihoods.
Demand for milk and dairy products has risen sharply, increasing from about 130 million litres in 2023 to about 150 million litres this year.
However, imports of powdered milk equivalent to about 95 million litres of raw milk have pushed the country’s annual milk requirement to between 220 million and 240 million litres.
The gap presents significant opportunities for local producers to increase production, substitute imports and expand into export markets.
Minister Masuka said the next phase of growth must be driven by innovation, modernisation and industrialisation in line with the country’s Vision 2030 aspirations.
He challenged industry players to generate comprehensive data covering employment, production volumes, value addition, farmer numbers, processors and the gross value of dairy products to enable Government to formulate more responsive and evidence-based policies.
The Minister said dairy farming must remain commercially viable and sustainable despite challenges such as high feed costs, mechanisation constraints, utility expenses and land-related issues, added the minister.
Minister Masuka said Government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for dairy farmers while protecting local producers through appropriate tariff and non-tariff measures as the sector advances towards self-sufficiency and export competitiveness.
He also commended the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers for taking a leading role in implementing resolutions adopted at the recent Regional Dairy Conference held in Victoria Falls, which attracted delegates from 19 African countries.
Representing the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Director for Economic Planning Mr Trust Mudzingwa said Harare remains the backbone of the dairy value chain, processing and marketing more than 70 percent of the country’s milk.
