By ETimes
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s milk production rose 21% to 27.3 million litres during the first quarter of 2024 from 22.61 million litres in the same period last year, latest data shows.
It comes as the Zimbabwe Association for Dairy Farmers (ZADF) is expecting reduced feed stocks in the form of roughage (maize silage) and protein sources due to the effects of the El Nino-induced drought, which will affect national milk production and productivity.
Statistics from the Agriculture Ministry’s Dairy Services Department show that the country’s milk intake by processors went up 21% in Q1 2024 to 25.07 million litres from 20.74 million litres in the comparative period.
Retail milk production increased by 19% to 2.22 million litres in Q1 2024, compared to 1.86 million litres in Q1 2023.
Average milk output for the period under review stood at 9.1 million litres. In Q1 2023, the country’s average milk output stood at 7.53 million litres.
In March this year, the country’s milk production appreciated by 19% to 8.96 million litres, compared to 7.51 million litres in March last year.
At 8.96 million litres, March 2024 milk production was up 2% from 8.81 million litres recorded in February this year.
January milk output of 9.52 million litres is the highest so far.
The annual milk requirement stands at about 120 million litres and the country has been supplementing through imports.
Zimbabwe milk production rose nine percent to 99.82 million litres in 2023 from 91.39 million litres in 2022.
However, it was forecasted to reach 100 million litres, a 7.5% increase in milk output when compared with 2022, but slightly below the set target of 103 million litres for 2023.