Zimbabwe’s milk production soars despite drought challenges

ZIMBABWE – Despite facing drought conditions, Zimbabwe’s dairy sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, registering a 19% increase in milk production during the first eight months of 2024. 

According to data released by the Dairy Services Unit (DSU), milk production between January and August rose to 75.25 million liters from 63.04 million liters in the same period last year. 

This achievement showcases the sector’s ability to overcome the adverse effects of climate change, particularly the El Niño-induced drought.

In August 2024 alone, milk production grew by 15%, reaching 10.16 million liters, compared to 8.82 million liters in August 2023. 

The dairy processors absorbed 92% of this milk, with the remaining 8% being sold directly by producers.

Edward Warambwa, the National Chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF), credited this growth to various factors, including prior investments in herd growth, operational efficiency, improved management practices, and enhanced animal health. 

These efforts, he said, have kept milk production stable despite challenges in water availability and pasture quality due to the drought.

However, Warambwa noted that the month-on-month growth rate declined from 20% earlier in the year to 15% in August, attributing this to worsening pasture conditions. 

He also highlighted the increasing cost of production, particularly feed prices, which outpaced the rise in milk prices. 

In response, many farmers have reduced their feed usage to manage costs, which could contribute to a continued slowdown in production growth in the coming months.

The ZADF is actively engaging the government and stakeholders in the dairy value chain to address these challenges and ensure the sector’s viability. If current trends continue,

 Zimbabwe’s milk output could rise to 118 million liters by the end of the year, surpassing the national target of 115 million liters for 2024. 

However, the country will still need to import around 13 million liters to meet its annual demand of 131 million liters.

Efforts to strengthen the dairy sector have been bolstered by both government-facilitated and private-sector initiatives. 

The national dairy herd has grown by 13.4%, from 53,250 in 2022 to 60,398 in 2023, with the milking herd standing at 39,811 by the end of last year. 

This expansion has allowed the industry to surpass its 2025 target of 60,000 total cows and 38,000 milking cows two years ahead of schedule.

On June 1, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Milk Day, recognizing the essential role that dairy plays in providing quality nutrition and supporting livelihoods in the country.

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