Online Reporter
Lonster Mutata
Herald Correspondent
THE International Dairy Conference Africa 2026 begins today in Victoria Falls, setting the stage for a high-level continental push to transform Africa’s dairy sector into a powerhouse of agro-industrial growth, food security and economic development.
It runs until Thursday.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka will deliver the keynote address and officially open the conference today.
The conference brings together policymakers, industry leaders, farmers, financiers and researchers from across Africa and beyond.
Held under the theme, “Driving dairy competitiveness and sustainability in Africa and beyond”, the indaba comes at a critical juncture when the continent is seeking to unlock the vast, yet underdeveloped potential of its dairy value chains amid rising demand for nutritious foods and expanding population growth.
Deliberations at the conference are expected to feed into continental efforts to establish the Apex Africa Dairy Alliance, a landmark initiative endorsed by the African Union, designed to strengthen coordination, attract investment and drive structural transformation across the dairy ecosystem.
Africa’s dairy sector, already one of the fastest-growing agricultural value chains, remains constrained by low productivity, high production costs, and fragmented markets.
With feed accounting for up to 70 percent of production costs, experts say strengthening feed and fodder systems, a key focus under the initiative for Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems, is central to improving efficiency and competitiveness.
Despite its importance, the continent continues to face a significant dairy deficit, with average consumption estimated to be equivalent of just 40 to 50 litres per person annually, far below global averages.
This gap, translating into tens of millions of tonnes in unmet demand, presents a major opportunity for investment, value addition and job creation.
The conference is expected to spotlight how coordinated continental action, under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, can unlock intra-African dairy trade, enabling surplus-producing countries to supply deficit markets while reducing reliance on imports.
Stakeholders will also explore strategies to expand milk production, strengthen processing capacity, improve cold chain systems, and enhance market access while promoting inclusive participation of women and youths across the value chain.
The Victoria Falls gathering is poised to chart a new trajectory for Africa’s dairy industry, one anchored on innovation, sustainability and strategic partnerships, while laying the groundwork for a unified continental voice through the proposed Apex Africa Dairy Alliance.
