Online Reporter
Online Reporter
LOCAL milk production rose to 57 million litres in the first six months of this year, up from 50 million litres in the same period a year earlier, a development hailed by the Livestock and Meat Advisory Council executive administrator Dr Renneth Mano as a promising sign of the sector’s growing vitality.
Dr Mano attributed the surge in production to the successful prioritisation of agricultural productivity and food security under the Government’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1.
“This growth signals not only the strength of current interventions but also the sector’s potential to reach full self-sufficiency,” he said.
“Now more than ever, it’s crucial to consolidate these gains by scaling up support mechanisms, addressing sector-specific needs and unlocking financing to future-proof dairy production.”
The latest increased output continues a steady rise in national milk production witnessed over the past decade.
From a baseline of under 90 million litres in 2016, Dr Mano revealed, the country’s annual yield surpassed 114 million litres last year.
With the national annual requirement standing at 130 million litres, Zimbabwe is gradually closing the gap and reducing its reliance on imports, he said.
The growth has translated into a reduced import bill, increased availability of locally processed dairy products and improved foreign currency retention.
The dairy sector is now turning its focus to value addition.
Plans are underway to deepen local processing of raw milk into high-value products, further enhancing the sector’s role in Zimbabwe’s growth story.
With sustained support and strategic investment, industry experts believe Zimbabwe could meet — and eventually surpass — its national milk requirements in the near future. – New Ziana/Online Reporter
