Zimbabwe targets milk self‑sufficiency after strong dairy sector recovery

ZIMBABWE’S dairy industry has recorded 129 percent growth since 2017, producing 155 million litres of milk in 2025, as the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa continues to implement targeted policy reforms and strategic investments aimed at revitalising the agricultural sector.

Addressing delegates at the recent International Dairy Federation (IDF) Regional Dairy Conference Africa 2026 in Victoria Falls, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said Zimbabwe is now on course to attain self sufficiency in milk production from this year.

“Zimbabwe produced 155 million litres of milk in 2025, with 121 million litres being for commercial production and the balance being produced for home consumption. Zimbabwe has made significant progress in revitalising the dairy sector, guided by deliberate policy reforms and strategic investments,” he said.

“From 2026 onwards, the country should be self-sufficient in milk production, with the sector having grown by 129 percent since 2017.”

Dr Masuka said the country is targeting commercial milk output exceeding 200 million litres by 2030, in line with the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2: 2026-2030, which prioritises increased production and productivity, enhanced sector viability, and expanded value addition and beneficiation.

Despite the strong performance, he acknowledged that the sector continues to face challenges, including high production costs, feed shortages and inadequate cold chain infrastructure, and urged conference delegates to craft long term solutions to sustain growth and competitiveness.

Reinforcing Government’s commitment to transforming the dairy value chain, Permanent Secretary for Industry and Commerce Dr Thomas Utete Wushe said the recovery of the dairy sector was the outcome of deliberate policy interventions, increased private sector investment and co-ordinated collaboration across the value chain.

“Zimbabwe’s dairy sector tells a story of remarkable resilience. From a low of 40 million litres in 2008, we have grown to over 121 million litres in 2025. This recovery did not happen by accident. It is the result of deliberate government policy, sustained private sector investment, and strong collaboration across the value chain,” Dr Wushe said.

He said under the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP2), Government has introduced the concept of Manufacturing for Manufacturing, which promotes local production of stainless steel tanks, pasteurisers, packaging lines and cold chain trucks, thereby reducing import dependence and enhancing long term industrial resilience.

“We envision a future where Africa uses its own mineral wealth, its steel, its copper, its industrial capacity to build the tools that process its own milk. That is the essence of structural transformation. That is how we retain value, create decent jobs, and build lasting resilience against global supply chain shocks,” said Dr Wushe.

He added that Government is operationalising the Triple Helix model, which integrates Government, industry and academia to stimulate innovation and accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, including artificial intelligence for herd management and blockchain systems for product traceability.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust chairman Mr Themba Mutsvairo said the sector is undergoing robust structural recovery, with raw milk production showing sustained growth towards the 2025/2026 targets.

“The resurgence is largely driven by concerted efforts in genetic improvement, the adoption of modern farming technologies, and Government supported initiatives such as the Dairy Revitalisation Programme. However, demand for raw milk continues to grow at a faster rate than production, owing to the stabilisation and growth of the economy,” Mr Mutsvairo said.

He recommended that dairy value chain players improve productivity per cow to an average of 18 litres, targeting 222 million litres from a herd of 40 000 cows or 333 million litres from 60 000 cows.

Mr Mutsvairo said with 6,69 million school going children constituting a readily available market for affordable milk, national consumption could exceed 500 million litres annually if each child consumed between 0,3 and 0,75 litres per day.

He also proposed the establishment of dairy co-operatives along green belts near the country’s more than 10 700 dams as a strategy to empower women and youths while strengthening national milk production.

The IDF Regional Dairy Conference Africa 2026 is being held under the theme “Driving Dairy Competitiveness and Sustainability in Africa and Beyond.”