adminTanaka Mahanya and Ashley Mujoma
THE GOVERNMENT is working on putting in place initiatives in the dairy sector to enhance competitiveness and ensure full exploitation of continental trade in the sector.
Zimbabwe has over the past decade been importing more dairy products than it exports.
In a speech read on his behalf, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Permanent Secretary, John Basera, said on average, the country exports US$13 million worth of dairy products per annum and imports US$179 million worth of milk products.
“All dairy farmers highlighted that cheaper imported dairy products would affect their pricing decisions to compete in the regional market.
“Zimbabwe dairy producers are currently enjoying the benefits of a relatively higher producer price of US$0.61 per litre compared to producers in the region, for example, South Africa at US$0.32 per litre,” he said.
He said the Ministry is implementing the Livestock Growth Plan which envisages growth in the dairy sector to make headway to the attainment of the status of an upper-middle income economy by 2030.
“We aim to be self-sufficient in milk production by 2025. The dairy sector has recorded a firm growth of 18 percent in milk production this year, perhaps the highest growth rate in recent times.
“Annual milk production was 79.6 million litres in 2021, which was 3,79 percent higher than that achieved in 2020,” he said.
Basera said the national target for the dairy cow population to meet and exceed domestic requirements is about 32 000.
“Currently, the national dairy herd stands at around 39 000 animals excluding mixed breeds, of which about 19 000 are milking cows.
“Government is encouraging farmers to explore joint venture partnerships to land holders as a means to accessing finance, but must be approved first by government.
“The Ministry also established a national bull centre and semen collection and processing facility at Mazowe Veterinary Field Research Station.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter