Brighton Gumbo Business Reporter
BULAWAYO hosts the 2015 Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers’ (ZADF) annual general meeting tomorrow with 300 plus delegates expected to attend. Increased production and value addition will be the focus of the three-day indaba, ZADF national chairman, Craig Follwell said. “We’re very prepared as far as the slated date for our AGM is concerned and we’ve invited all our stakeholders, who include farmers, representatives from the government and producers of dairy products,” he said.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha, Bulawayo Provincial Minister of State, Eunice Moyo and Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister, Paddy Zhanda are expected to attend.

“We’ll initially receive an address from Minister Moyo and later on a keynote address from our guest of honour Mike Bimha who will make a presentation on the importance of the dairy industry to Zimbabwe’s economic growth,” said Follwell.

“Zhanda will make a presentation on the way forward towards increasing milk production.”

The event will cover topical issues ranging from production, pest control and offer advice on other relevant topics.

“We’ll help facilitate technical talks on getting the best efficiency for every dollar you spend on your farm, cost benefit of improving genetics, different production systems, efficient calf rearing, disease control, improved pastures, bio-security and biodiversity and much more,” Follwell said.

Participants will be afforded the opportunity to display their products ahead of a tour by delegates.

Some of the participating firms include Holly Lodge farm, Ngenile farm, Pholephole farm and Kershelmar Dairy.

“Last year we had 300 attendants at our annual general meeting in Gweru and from the look of things we’re likely to receive a much bigger number and a high note delegation from the country’s six regions,” Follwell said.