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Michael Tome
Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S milk production grew by 20 percent to 69,3 million litres in the eight months to August 2024, on the back of several initiatives implemented by sector players and the Government to boost output.
The ultimate objective is for the country to meet local demand and cut imports.
In the same period last year, the country produced 57,8 million litres.
To meet national demand and be self-sufficient in milk production, Zimbabwe needs to grow its raw milk production to at least 137 million litres per annum.
The sector seeks to surpass the 137 million litres by 2025, as espoused in the National Development Strategy 1.
According to the Dairy Services Unit of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, August 2024 recorded the highest month-on-month milk intake of 9,4 million litres by processors this year, as 2024 milk production levels continue to hover above yesteryear levels.
The figure stood at 8,1 million litres in August 2023.
On the other hand, February 2024, at 8,1 million litres, recorded the lowest month-on-month production this year.
Generally, Zimbabwe has been making notable strides in raw milk production as seen in a 14,3 percent jump in production to 91,4 million litres in 2022, from 79,6 million litres in 2021.
To boost output, approximately US$20 million was invested across the dairy value chain in 2022, with 60 percent of the investment being channelled towards improving efficiency and capacity at the processing level.
New entrants, particularly small-scale farmers, have been capacitated and are now contributing significantly to local milk production, and are expected to increase their output going forward.
There has also been a significant increase in the number of milking cows, attributed to investments targeted at herd growth.
Efficient management, including the adoption of cost-effective ways of maximising milk yields at the lowest possible feed cost and continuous improvements by existing farmers, have also contributed to an increase in output.
According to the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF), this year’s milk production will likely increase by 15 percent to circa 115 million litres.
The forecast La Niña weather phenomenon for the 2024/2025 summer season, expected to improve the rainfall situation in the country, is expected to result in a 20 percent jump in raw milk output to 138 million litres next year, a figure slightly above the national annual demand.
“We are confident that we will reach self-sufficiency next year. There is great potential in the dairy sector if issues on milk pricing, cost of feed, cost of compliance, erratic power supply and access to finance are addressed; the sector can thrive.
“ZADF, in collaboration with other dairy value chain players, is supporting the dairy revitalisation programme through promoting on-farm feed production and formulation to lower the cost of feed for farmers and improving genetics, guided by the National Dairy Breeding Strategy.
“This will be aided by widening the provision of extension services targeted at increasing milk yields and quality, animal nutrition, animal health management, as well as promoting improved efficiency at farm level,” said ZADF chief executive officer Mrs Paidamoyo Chadoka in an interview with The Sunday Mail.
She said this would be complemented by lobbying for affordable funding support and products tailor-made for the dairy sector to invest in farm mechanisation, irrigation and smart technologies.
Mrs Chadoka said the El Niño-induced drought was affecting yields for small- and medium-scale dairy farmers who relied more on dryland pastures.
However, for farmers with irrigation systems and reliant on other feeding options, the impact on output is less.
The drought has also affected the availability of critical raw materials for feed, which has pushed up the price of raw materials and feed concentrates.
“Although milk production has increased compared to the same period last year, there was great potential for even higher volumes this year had it not been for the El Niño phenomenon.”
Efforts to ramp up local milk production are ongoing and include interventions by Swedish Government agencies, which have increasingly been reaching out to assist dairy farmers.
Dairy sector stakeholders have also developed a Dairy Sector Strategic Plan (2021-2025) for improved performance of the dairy value chain in Zimbabwe.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is on record saying the intended growth will be attained from synergies among the Zimbabwean Government, the private sector and development partners.
“The interventions are part of the country’s Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan, with a deliberate effort on increasing the national dairy herd,” the ministry said.
Zimbabwe’s dairy sector is facing several challenges, including a limited number of cows and weak genetics in the herd, high production and processing costs, limited access to affordable finance and foreign currency, high compliance costs and effects of climate change.
These are negatively affecting the growth, viability and competitiveness of the sector.
The country was once a net exporter of milk and dairy products. It produced over 260 million litres per year at its peak in the early 1990s.
Online Reporter