By ETimes
Zimbabwe’s milk production rose 9% to 90.31 million litres during the 11 months to November 2023 from 83.06 million litres in the comparative period, latest data shows.
Statistics from the Agriculture Ministry’s Dairy Services Department show that the country’s milk intake by processors went up 11% in the first 11 months of 2023 to 83.02 million litres from 74.95 million litres previously.
Retail milk production, however, declined by 10% from 8.11 million litres in the same period in 2022 to 7.28 million litres.
Average milk output for the period under review stood at 8.21 million litres.
In prior period of 2022, the country’s average milk output stood at 7.55 million litres.
November 2023 milk output rose 15% to 9.32 million litres, compared to 8.07 million litres in November 2022.
At 9.32 million litres, November 2023 output is the highest so far, followed by 9 million litres produced in October 2023.
Players in the dairy sector lowered their annual milk output to 100 million litres from 109 million litres previously owing to the high cost of production, which works against regional competitiveness.
“The downward revision was a result of various challenges experienced during the course of the year, including the high cost of production,” a dairy farmer said.
“We are on course to achieve the 2023 annual national milk volume of 100 million litres.”
The country’s milk production rose 15% to 91.31 million litres in 2022, compared to 79.6 million litres realised in 2021.
The dairy sector needs about US$75 million to be fully revitalised-HARARE