Zim milk production set to increase 12% in 2024

Audrey Galawu

Zimbabwe’s dairy industry has made strides in achieving increasing milk production with milk production projected to increase by 12% to over 110 million litres in the current year compared to 99 million litres in the previous year.

This increase in production is attributed to increased investment from both the government and private sector since 2018.

The Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers reports that the country is on track to meet annual milk requirements of at least 120 million litres.

Industry experts predict continued growth driven by enhanced output value chains, leading to increased availability of locally produced milk products.

Speaking to Zim Now, Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers national chairperson, Edward Warambwa said the development in milk production is credited to government interventions and private sector initiatives aimed at revitalising the industry.

“Procurement of more dairy animals, mechanisation and irrigation infrastructure for pasture and forage production are some of the interventions that have driven the production increase.

“The availability of milking equipment and cold chain facilities, dairy production knowledge and skills and animal health management have also contributed to the progress,” he said.

He, however, noted that the industry still faces several challenges, which hamper dairy production such as high cost of production which works against regional competitiveness and high cost of inputs when looking at this season.

“Effects of climate change on production, productivity and profitability, limited financial resources for mechanisation and pasture and fodder irrigation development by small, medium and large-scale farmers, unavailability of affordable finance at low interest rate to finance dairy developments – funding is required for supporting smallholder dairy to increase production and productivity.

“Some of the difficulties that the industry still come across include the erratic power supply and high cost of fuel affect maintenance of cold chain in milk production and handling which limits increased production of milk especially among small, medium and large-scale farmers and changes in the policy environment affecting the ease of doing business,” Warambwa noted.

The government hopes that sustained growth in local milk production will ease pressure on the import bill for dairy products.

Zimbabwe has reportedly exported 2 346 843 kilogrammes of dairy products worth US$3 655 408 between January to September 2023.