Milk output up 7pc
Written by Bulawayo Correspondent
Thursday, 05 July 2012 13:27
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s milk output has surged seven percent on the back of a
growing number of farmers who are now venturing into the lucrative sector,
an official said.
Addressing the National Association of Dairy Farmers (Nadf), Mechanisation
and Irrigation Development ministry’s chief dairy officer Tendai Marecha
said milk production last year shot to an estimated 51 million litres.
“Annual milk production in 2011 increased to 50,6 million litres from a
figure of 47 million litres the previous year,” said Marecha.
She said the sector, still hamstrung by viability challenges, was yet to
realise its full potential.
“.. the industry has remained united with a common goal towards increasing
productivity.”
Marecha urged dairy farmers and government to complement each other to boost
the country’s milk yield.
“It is imperative that government, farmers and processors work together in
order to arrest the current low milk production volumes,” said Marecha,
underscoring the nutritious value of dairy products.
Nadf chairperson Veneka Bwerinofa however bemoaned high production costs.
“Zimbabwe still has the highest price of milk and high production cost in
the region. This has a negative impact on the country’s milk output,” she
said.
“Continued power cuts and the continued increase in stock feed prices are
also negatively affecting our operations.”
The local unit of global food and nutrition company Nestlé recently
partnered with the Zimbabwe Women Land and Agriculture Trust (ZWLAT) in
setting up a $14 million fund for the dairy sector.
The company planned to increase dairy cow imports to boost the current
national head.
The dairy empowerment scheme would rolled out nationally and the next phase
will be in the Midlands Province and the Nyamandhlovu District in Matabeland
North Province.
Zimbabwe’s current national raw milk production is 4,5 million litres per
month compared to an estimated demand of 7,5 million litres per month.
Per capita consumption in Zimbabwe is eight litres against peak levels of 25
litres.
Zimbabwe’s per capita milk intake remains low compared to regional averages
which are around 56 litres for South Africa and 10 litres for Zambia.
Over the past decade, milk production slumped to an all-time low a million
litres as farmers struggled to expand operations during a period of economic
volatility.
But with the adoption of multiple currencies in 2009 that ushered relative
economic stability, milk production has steadily risen.
Currently, Zimbabwe has 223 registered dairy operators and an estimated
dairy herd of about 26 000 animals 12 000 of which are milking cows.
During peak production, Zimbabwe used to milk an estimated 150 million
litres of milk, with surplus exported into the region.