George Maponga in Masvingo
THE government has started issuing permits to individual farmers and private dairy processors to import dairy heifers as part of efforts to boost milk production for the local market.Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for livestock, Paddy Zhanda, yesterday said the dairy heifers were being imported mainly from South Africa.

He said Zimbabwe was producing slightly more than 50 percent of its monthly milk requirements, hence the move to import dairy heifers to boost milk output.

“The government is encouraging investment in milk production by giving permits for the importation of dairy heifers mainly from South Africa in order to increase the country’s dairy herd,” said Deputy Minister Zhanda.

“The increase in the dairy herd will result in the increase in local milk production, thereby leading to reduction of imported milk.

“We do allow the importation of dairy heifers from South Africa by individual farmers and dairy processors who will distribute them to farmers who supply milk to these processors.’’

He said there was growing interest in the lucrative dairy sector by new farmers, adding that the government was prepared to assist them with extension services. He said Zimbabwe’s dairy head currently stood at between 30,000 and 35,000 but set to rise on the back of sustained imports.

“The number of imported heifers isn’t static, it’s ongoing and the financing is done by the importers themselves,” said Deputy Minister Zhanda. “Current milk production is four-and-half million litres per month against demand of plus or minus eight million litres. The government offers extension services to any farmer who wants to embark on milk production be it A1, A2 or communal farmers not financial assistance.”

He said some commercial dairy farmers were using imported semen to improve the quality of dairy cattle in the country.

Zimbabwe’s dairy sector has been on a steady rebound since the turn of the millennium with more indigenous farmers venturing into milk production to plug the gap left by white former dairy farmers who left in protest against land reform. The country relies on imports to augment locally-produced milk to meet domestic demand.