Raw milk production hits 20-yr high

Agriculture Specialist Writer

RAW milk production of 105 million litres for the first eleven months of the year has eclipsed the highest annual production between 2004 and 2023 of 100 million recorded in 2005 with a month remaining.

A combination of dairy farmers’ resolve and the Government’s import substitution drive through increased local production has led the country to this achievement.

Statistics released by the Dairy Services Unit (DSU) yesterday showed that raw milk production increased by 16 percent, from 90 311 809 litres for the period from January to November 2023 to 104 636 973 litres in the comparable period this year.

Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) national chairman Mr Edward Warambwa said joint stakeholder efforts have resulted in the gradual recovery of raw milk production between 2012 and 2024.

“There is great potential for the industry to grow and attain self-sufficiency, as well as export, if issues regarding milk pricing, the cost of feed, compliance costs, erratic power supply, and access to finance are addressed.

“Investment in irrigation development is critical to ensuring water availability for fodder and pasture development to ease the burden of stock feed costs,” he said.

The ZADF chair also mentioned that investment in solar energy to safeguard farmers against the erratic power supply is crucial for maintaining the cold chain and ensuring water availability.

“Although there has been a decline in recorded milk product imports, the dairy industry is under threat from the influx of smuggled dairy products, which authorities need to guard against by strengthening security at border posts,” he noted.

Mr Warambwa stated that the 15 percent growth target set at the beginning of the year, from 100 million litres in 2023 to 115 million this year, is still likely to be achieved.

Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) executive administrator Dr Reneth Mano said that although the local dairy production sector is recovering due to notable growth in the domestic dairy herd, its productivity and profitability continue to lag behind regional competitors.

“The small-scale commercial dairy subsector has the potential to achieve this growth by embracing superior dairy animal genetics. The current genetics in the smallholder sector consist of low-performing crossbred dairy cows yielding 3 000 litres of milk per year,” Dr Mano said.

He noted that the average commercial yield of a good dairy cow with proper genetics and management is 5 000 litres of raw milk per lactating cow per year.

Meanwhile, the Government recently initiated the drafting of the Zimbabwe Livestock Growth Programme (ZLGP), which is set to be officially launched in August 2025.

Speaking at the ZLGP stakeholder sensitisation recently held in Harare, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary, Professor Obert Jiri said: “Vision 2030, as enunciated by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, reflects the collective aspirations and determination of the people of Zimbabwe towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society.”