Govt committed to transform dairy sector

DORCAS MHUNGU RECENTLY IN CHIKOMBA

Government is committed to help transform the local dairy sector and has put in place a programme to boost output amid calls by players the milk price has been outpaced by production costs, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Peter Haritatos said.

 

Esther Marwa (right) receiving her Award cetificate from deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos.Picture by ZADF

The Ministry is implementing the Silage and Pasture Production for Enhanced Milk Production under the Presidential Silage and Input scheme, Haritatos said at the 2021 Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF)  awards ceremony held at Marwa Farm in Chikomba District, Chivhu.

“The intention is to increase supply of milk to 20 milk collection and champion-hub centres, increase milk production, increase rural per capita income and improve household food security and nutrition,” Haritatos said.

He added: “The focus for all dairy value chain actors is on rebuilding both large, medium and small scale holder dairy sectors. The current production of 19 litres per cow per day by the 2021 Small Scale winner (Esther) Marwa supports the growth plan on rebuilding the milk dairy sector, strengthening and expanding the dairy rehabilitation programme.”

Haritatos bemoaned the low growth in both dairy animal numbers and milk production from both large scale commercial and small scale holder sectors in the last decade.

The  Zimbabwe’s small holder dairy sector contributes 4% with an average production of milk per cow that ranges from seven to 12 litres per day per cow.

Esther Marwa  was the overall National Dairy Farmer of the Year winner.

Barnet Nyati was the Matabeleland regional farmer of the year while  Tawanda Sithole was the winner for Midlands Province.

Eric Mutasa and Kusano Margerate were the Mutare Regional farmer  of the year and Mutare Regional Woman in dairy winners respectively.

Haritatos also said improved milk production from small scale dairy farmers  would go a long way in boosting production in the dairy sector.

He said government’s partners would also support  the administration’s initiatives to grow the sector.

The ZADF chairperson, Ernst Muzorewa, who also spoke at the event lauded the government for introducing the Presidential Silage and Command Programme to help reduce the high cost of stockfeeds.

“We are encouraged and hopeful that given your continued support in silage production, our milk prices will be aligned with regional prices. (We should  be competitive in the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), (which came into effect last year in January),” Muzorewa said.

He added: “We thank government for introducing 5% levy on imported dairy product.”

The levy funds, Muzorewa said, will go to the Dairy Revitalisation Fund targeted at purchasing heifers, that is anticipated to increase raw milk production and supporting the developments in the dairy sector.

“Secondly we thank our milk processors currently using imported milk powders under controlled quota system to meet the demand of milk in the country for their efforts in purchasing heifers for their producers in a bid to increase raw milk production.

Muzorewa said the sector has limited access to cheap critical raw materials such as molasses, maize and wheat brans, soya and cotton cake which are vital sources of protein in animal diet.

Low producer prices are also drying up the aggregate milk production and productivity teats.

He said the current average standard milk price is ZWL$112.73 when the cost of producing a litre of milk is ZWL$149.5.

“Farmers are paid 80% to 90% in local currency while fuel is charged in United States dollar,” Muzorewa said.

He said the country’s milking herd of 20 000 produces 79m litres of milk annually that is inadequate.

“And if we are to increase raw milk production our farmers need to increase their milking herd and grow their dairy business activities so that we meet the 130m litres of milk needed in Zimbabwe.

The limited mechanisation of the dairy farming systems has also impacted the irrigation of pastures, inadequate tractors, feed mixing equipment and milking machines.

He said: “We are therefore lobbying for a pricing policy based on milk to feed price ratio as a pricing model that will make milk production profitable.”

Muzorewa said ZADF  will launch the  local heifer breeding programme this month targeting at increasing the milking herd of good genetics from current 20 000 milking herd to 40 000 by 2025.

 

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