By Stephen Chandisareva
HARARE – Milk production in Zimbabwe surged by 21% in the first two months of 2024, latest figures show.
This comes as players in the dairy industry expect reduced feed stocks in the form of roughage (maize silage) and protein sources due to the effects of the El Nino-induced drought.
In the period, milk output stood at 18.33 million litres compared to 15.09 million litres in the same period last year.
Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture’s dairy services department show that milk intake by processors rose by 21% to 16.85 million litres from 13.88 million litres in the comparative period.
Consequently, retailed milk by producers went up 23% to 1.48 million litres from 1.21 million litres in the comparative period.
February milk output at 8.81 million litres was up 26.63% from 6.95 million litres recorded in February 2023. So far, January milk output, at 9.52 million, is the highest.
The El Nino-induced drought is poised to affect national milk production and productivity, thereby reducing the potential to meet the anticipated national milk volume growth.