adminLuthando Mapepa
GOVERNMENT is determined to revive dairy farming by equipping farmers with skills and heifers in order to increase the volume of milk production in the country, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation, Irrigation Development (responsible for livestock), Cde Paddy Zhanda, has said.
Speaking during a tour of dairy farmers at Rusitu United Dairy Co-operative in Chipinge Central last Wednesday, Cde Zhanda said it was disheartening to note that the country was losing a lot of money through milk imports.
He said the situation should be reversed through supporting the diary sector.
He urged the remaining commercial white farmers to partner Government in assisting new dairy farmers with the necessary skills to ensure effective milk production.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and start by equipping our new farmers with dairy farming skills.
“All farmers who will receive heifers should undergo training and that is the foundation of successful dairy farming.
“Government will make sure that all farmers will not practice dairy farming applying guess work strategies.
“We are also urging newly resettled farmers to tap skills and knowledge from white commercial farmers in order for them to supply large volumes of milk to meet the country’s demand,” he said.
Cde Zhanda took a swipe at some extension officers whom he said were not doing enough to provide farmers with the necessary farming knowledge and skills.
“Our ministry has learnt that some of the extension officers are sleeping on duty. We have people who were tasked to give advice farmers, but what is surprising is that the farmers still lack basic knowledge.
“Let me warn them that Government will not hesitate to fire them. As workers of the people we need to make sure that we change their lives for the better and this can be achieved through wise forecast.
“Government will make sure that the few heifers which will be imported soon by Government will be distributed in a transparent manner,” he added.
Speaking during the same occasion, Risutu Dairy United Co-operative chairperson, Mr Farai Maseure, thanked Government through the Ministry of Agriculture for helping their association with artificial insemination facilities.
“We are glad that Government assisted us by introducing artificial insemination. We also want to hail Government for allowing business partners like USADF and Land of Lakes to work with us to improve diary sector in Chipinge,” he said.
He said they met a lot of challenges in acquiring productive dairy breeds and were forced to sell some of their livestock to raise the initial deposit of $485 which was needed by Micro-king Finances to process their loan.
According to statistics released by the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers, Zimbabwe’s current national milk production level stands at 54 million litres per year which is far short of the 120 million litres needed to satisfy the national demand.
The event was attended by Member of National Assembly for Chipinge Central, Cde Ray Machingura, Government heads of department and various dairy farming stakeholders.
Online Reporter