Resuscitate dairy industry, Govt urged

Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce has said.
In a report on the state of industry and revival strategies, the committee found that the total dairy herd had dwindled from 192 000 in 1992 to around 22 000 in 2009.

Buhera North House of Assembly member, Mr William Mutomba, chairs the committee.
“Dairibord Zimbabwe officials submitted to the committee that the supply of raw milk had declined over the years.
“It was indicated that in 1980 about 180 million litres had been supplied and the amount had gone down to about 30 million litres in 2009. The amount of milk delivered was to a large extent affected by the dairy herd and number of dairy farmers.

“Considering that the gestation period in dairy farming is about five years, it is the committee’s view that Government should quickly embark on a dairy herd restocking exercise.
“This would involve the importation of alternative breeds to the Jersey, which is no longer suitable to our drought prone terrain. The importation would ensure that the herd quickly increases from the 22 000 cattle rather than wait for the natural process to take place,” the report said.

To support the restocking exercise, the committee said Government can resuscitate the research stations and to capacitate extension services which would then assist the farmers especially new farmers in the sector.
The committee also recommended that the dairy sector should be afforded access to lines of credit so that it can be able to maintain its plant and machinery.

The report further indicated that power outages were impacting negatively on the dairy sector.
“The committee was also notified that local supplies of inputs such as, electricity, water and coal were other constraints to operations. Erratic power supplies affected the refrigeration of dairy products resulting in some losses over and above the losses incurred through lack of production due to load shedding. Officials cited losses of up to US$190 000 per month due to the impact of power outages.

“It would be a welcome development if the sector is exempted from load shedding or if the load shedding is carried out according to a schedule that is strictly followed.
“At the time of the committee’s visit it was revealed that DZPL was operating at about 25 percent capacity. Dairibord officials submitted to the committee that the decline in production was mainly due to the 1991/92 ravaging drought. The period required by the dairy industry to begin recovery for lost livestock is about five years,” the committee said.

The report further notes that from the 314 dairy farmers in the country, total volumes of milk production, amounted to 168 million litres and it dropped down to 40 million litres from 250 dairy farmers.
It added that officials had submitted that although imported finished products were welcome in the short term, it posed intense competition for local products.

“There was therefore need to protect consumers from the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms and adulterated products,” the report said.
The committee said DZPL officials had raised the issue of farm sizes necessary for dairy farming and an integrated approach whereby linkages were created with surrounding farmers so that inputs are readily available at minimum costs.