Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
AT first glance, a heifer may seem like just another cow, but to the trained eye, and the hard-skinned hands of a rural dairy farmer, an in-calf heifer is a beacon of transformation.
It is not an ordinary animal. An in-calf heifer is a young female cow that is already pregnant, poised to bring forth a new generation of milk produce within a few months.
By the time it calves, it does not just double the herd, but triple its economic potential.
A single dairy cow can produce between 20 to 30 litres of milk per day under good conditions, and over 7 000 litres in a typical lactation cycle.
That milk is not only nutritional but is money to the farmer.
It is school fees, dignity and power.
When 24 rural women from the Cynara Dairy Farmers Co-operative in Mutasa District received 24 in-calf heifers through a pilot loan scheme by the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) on Monday, it was, not just a handover ceremony, but the beginning of a transformative new chapter.
The chairlady for Mutasa Women in Dairy, Mrs Doreen Gogo had this to say about the gesture: “Having these heifers means we no longer have school fees problems for our children and cease to rely on handouts. It means we are now businesswomen in our own right, contributing immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), something we never thought of as rural women.”
Each heifer, acquired at a cost of US$1 600, represents a bold investment in the future.
“This is a future, where we as rural women farmers, do not just survive off the land, but thrive through it.
“For us, the scent of fresh hay and early morning sounds of milking parlours are now equal to independence, purpose, and possibility. We no longer have to trouble our husbands, asking for money. We are now helping them with money,” she said jokingly.
She said owning the heifers is a dream come true for them.
“As women, we are grateful for the heifers. It is a dream come true for us. We had always wanted to expand our dairy farms, and now we can.
“The scheme has given us the confidence to invest in our farming business, and increase our milk production. We are expecting a significant increase in our income, which will enable us to improve our earnings and living standards. This is a new dawn for us, and we are eager to reap the fruits of our labour,” she said.
The initiative, supported by US$39 000 facility from ZWMB, is designed to cultivate a new culture of financial empowerment for women in dairy farming.
Traditionally excluded from land ownership and access to capital, many women in Manicaland remained small-scale producers, fenced off from opportunities to scale-up.
But the pilot programme has broken the barrier.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said with a five-month grace period and farmer-friendly repayment terms, the loan is not a debt, but a seed that is already germinating.
Minister Mugadza, who is also the legislator for Mutasa South Constituency, described the project as a critical step towards national economic recovery and inclusive agricultural development.
“I am pleased that the funding specifically targets disadvantaged people, particularly women, aligning with the Second Republic’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind. Under the National Development Strategy (NDS1), Government aims to increase the national dairy herd as well as the raw milk production, and these women will help achieve that goal with the newly acquired purebred in-calf heifers.
“In 2024, our nation produced 100 million litres, with Manicaland contributing 16 percent to the national milk output,” he said, encouraging more women across the province to venture into dairy farming, seize the financial opportunities offered by ZWMB, including other schemes like the Belarus Mechanisation Facility, which helps farmers acquire tractors and machinery.
“Women in business should take advantage of these loans and explore financial inclusion opportunities offered by the bank. There is no better time than now to take advantage of the initiatives and contribute to the GDP,” he said.
Some of the heifers have already calved, with the rest expected to calve by June 30.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Christine Kaisi said as a result, their milk buckets will be full, while their dreams transform into reality.
“Our story is about mothers who can now send their children to school without borrowing money from neighbours. It is about grandmothers who have been tilling fields all their lives and finally have something to show for it. It is about young wives dreaming of owning a piece of land and livestock in their own names. It is a game-changer for our families. We will now be able to increase milk production while also improving our livelihoods,” she said.
Cynara Dairy Farmers Co-operative chairperson, Mr Francis Musunzuru said households that once struggled to make ends meet are now diversifying into yoghurt and cheese production.
He said the co-operative has already begun seeing the impact.
“Some of the heifers have already calved, producing top-quality milk, and by June 30, all of the heifers would have calved. This just shows how we have bought two pure-bred heifers at a price of one, thereby increasing our milk production overnight.
“Our goal is to become a major industry, value-add our products, and produce new products for the market that are different from those already in the market. This is an investment that these women have done, and it will increase our milk production and the milk we will feed into national milk supply.
“The women holding the reins of these in-calf pure-breeds are not just beneficiaries, but pioneers and businesswomen, and we respect them so much,” he said.
ZWMB chief executive officer, Dr Mandas Marikanda said the terms of the loan were specifically designed to meet the realities of rural women farmers.
She said the pilot project, currently underway in Manicaland, aims to expand across other provinces.
“This loan scheme for dairy farmers is being piloted in Manicaland, and will be rolled out nationwide. We are confident that our female farmers will seize this opportunity and make it a resounding success, with the potential to secure additional loans for machinery and properties,” she said.
Zimbabwe’s milk production has seen significant growth, rising from 75 million litres in 2018 to 115 million litres by 2024.
National chairperson for Small-Scale Dairy Farmers, Mr Marlon Gwede said the country is on track to produce 130 million litres by 2025, provided more farmers access similar loan opportunities.
“Government’s goal is to support farmers and increase milk production for export. Loans to dairy farmers are crucial in achieving this objective,” he said.
The Cynara women in Manicaland are leading the way, serving as pioneers and inspiration for rural women in dairy farming.
With each litre of milk they produce, they are rewriting the narrative, showcasing rural women as leaders in agriculture.
This initiative is part of the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank’s efforts to empower women, with US$300 million already disbursed to support women’s economic empowerment initiatives.
