By ETimes
Zimbabwe’s raw milk production has nearly reached half of the annual requirement with three and a half months remaining before the end of 2022. The southern African nation requires 120 million litres annually.
According to latest figures from the Ministry of Agriculture’s dairy services department, the country’s milk output in the first eight months of 2022 rose 17% to 59.01 million litres from the 50.62 million litres recorded in the same period last year.
As more farmers enter the dairy industry and the herd has been augmented by imported heifers, milk production has been rising.
Official data shows that milk intake by processors surged by 15% to 53.14 million liters from 46.09 million liters in the comparative period.
In its half-year results, Dairibord, the country’s largest milk processor, highlighted the issue of high input costs.
“The price of stock feed continued to rise in line with food inflation pressure,” it said.
Initiatives for aggressive milk supply development have been boosted by the organization in order to produce milk at a low cost and in large quantities.
“The long-term benefits will be competitive local milk prices, import substitution of milk powders and opportunities for export growth.”
Producers’ retailed milk increased by 29% to 5.86 million liters from 4.52 million liters the previous year.
On a monthly basis, the southern African nation requires about 10 million liters. However, it is failing to reach it. To meet demand, the country must import them (milk powders).
August milk output increased 10.17% to 7.81 million litres from 7.09 million litres in the same period last year. 7.81 million litres, a slight decrease from the 7.84 million litres produced in July. Therefore, the month of July has produced the most so far.
Dairy farmers produced 79.6 million litres in 2021, representing a 4% increase from the 76.69 million litres produced in 2020.
The government has now cooperated with the business sector in the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to improve milk production in the country, with the cow herd poised to grow to about 30.000 cows. Lack of finance has been identified as a key threat to milk production – Harare