At present there is lack of empirical data on post-production losses of milk along the value chain.

By Farai Mabeza

SMALL scale dairy producers need to be supported by contract farming to ensure adequate inputs and availability of consistent markets, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have recommended.

Presenting a joint statement in Harare recently, UZ agricultural expert Brighton Mvumi said current production was dominated by large scale commercial producers with minimum contribution from small scale farmers, at below five percent.
“Contract farming and out-grower schemes are essential to provide consistent markets for milk and inputs such as feed. Financing mechanisms are also essential,” Mvumi said.
“Inputs policies supporting access to veterinary drugs and medicines, dairy feeds and home grown silage and hay are necessary for sustainable smallholder dairy production” the statement said.
Zimbabwe has seen a progressive decline in national production from 260 million litres in 1991 to 36 million litres in 2009 and less than 70 million litres in 2016.
The low output from small producers is due to lack of financial resources, use of inappropriate cattle breeds, poor disease control measures and lack of appropriate milk handling and transport infrastructure.
At present there is lack of empirical data on post-production losses of milk along the value chain
According to the Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust, there were about 32 smallholder dairy schemes, contributing about 2,5 to 3,5 percent of total national milk intake of approximately 65 million litres per annum in 2016.
Mvumi said the farmers and their workers needed training in good dairy practices in order to produce quality milk.
“Farmers require sustained training in all aspects of smallholder dairy,” he said.
The statement called for the establishment of sub-collection centres in areas which were far from the main milk collection centres. The sub-collection centres must be equipped with cooling facilities and suitable transport.
The small scale producers encounter a number of post-production challenges such as rejection of milk due to mastitis, an infection of the breast. This is caused by poor management practices.
The farmers do not observe safety periods after using veterinary drugs and medicines, according to Mvumi. They also do not have the capacity to perform the platform tests necessary to assess the quality of milk. Cold chain facilities are inadequate.
“This affects aggregation of milk from some production areas where it is not economic to deliver milk daily to the main collection centres,” Mvumi said.
Storage issues persist to the retail level where there is lack of cooling facilities and proper packaging material. As a result, farmers resort to informal markets which do not observe basic hygiene
Farmers, however, tend to get higher prices in informal markets for raw or fermented milk icompared to main collection centres.

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