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Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
RAW milk production increased by 3,4 percent in the first eight months of the year compared to the prior year mainly due to cost effective milk production systems that result in increased volumes allowing farmers to absorb production costs through economies of scale. Statistics from the Dairy Services Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development showed that milk production for the period January to August stood at 37 568 582 litres, up from 36 323 971 last year.
According to the Dairy Services Unit, intake of raw milk for processing was up 1,3 percent from 32 464 230 litres in 2014 to 32 888 020 litres.
The figures also showed that the producers retailed 21 percent more milk in the eight months to August than last year.
In 2014, 3 859 441 litres were retailed by producers in comparison to 4 680 562 litres in 2015.
Month on month basis production for August was 4,3 percent up from 4 856 577 litres in 2014 to 5 066 932l this year.
The Dairy Services Unit revealed that the milk price paid by processors in the country was one of the highest in the world hence they could not offer any price increase as that would make their products non-competitive on the market.
“Zimbabwe dairy farmers are getting an average of $0,60 per litre of milk price versus $0,40 per litre in South Africa. Zimbabwean dairy farmers would be losing money if given the same price as South African dairy farmers ($0,40). This in turn affects processors as their key input is milk and they are currently paying 50 percent more for their milk than South African processors,” the department noted.
In Malawi, dairy farmers are getting an average of $0,41 per litre while in Zambia and Mozambique farmers are getting $0,35 and $0,31 per litre respectively.
Ugandan farmers have the lowest rate at $0,26 per litre in Southern and Eastern Africa followed closely by Kenya at $0,27.
Farmers said they were increasing production following the increase in the dairy herd size which was a result of imports of heifers from South Africa as well as local breeding programmes being spearheaded by the Government, the private sector and other Non-Governmental Organisations.
Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) chairman Mr Emmanuel Zimbandu said the improvement in milk production was through dairy farmers’ efforts at increasing their herd.
He said farmers were engaging in proper artificial insemination methods and normal breeding which were both assisting in improving the dairy herd.
“More milk is being produced because the farmers are working hard at increasing their dairy herds. However, we are facing challenges when it comes to stock feed as the cost of feed is too high. The country is not producing enough maize and cotton which both contain the major raw materials for dairy stock feed,” said Mr Zimbandu.
He said another major challenge was the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) which was threatening livestock especially in the southern parts of the country. He said the ZADF was working with Government in addressing the issue.
Statistics from the Dairy Services Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development showed that milk production for the period January to August stood at 37 568 582 litres, up from 36 323 971 last year.
derick.khumalo