Zimbabwe’s milk production surges by 21%

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe has experienced a notable 21% increase in milk production, rising from 38,001,810 liters to 45,846,281 liters between January and May 2024, according to the Dairy Services Unit (DSU).

This surge is credited to the combined efforts of the government and private sector, with production showing month-on-month growth from February 2024.

The national dairy herd saw a 13.4% increase, from 53,250 in 2022 to 60,398 in 2023, surpassing the 2025 target of a total dairy herd of 60,000 and 38,000 milking cows. Specifically, the milking herd stood at 39,811 in 2023.

The national chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF), Mr. Edward Warambwa, attributed the rise in production to investments in herd growth.

He noted significant contributions from new entrants to the industry and continuous improvements by existing farmers through efficient management.

Warambwa emphasized that many farmers are adopting cost-effective ways to maximize milk yields, particularly by lowering feed expenses.

Seasonal weather also impacts milk yields, with dairy breeds favoring cooler conditions. This increases milk yields during winter when animals are not stressed by heat.

ZADF projects a 13% increase in milk production from 100 million liters in 2023 to approximately 113 million liters in 2024.

Commercial dairy production in Zimbabwe began in 1912. However, pre-independence policies of separate development primarily catered to the commercial farming sector, making dairying predominantly the prerogative of large-scale commercial farmers.

These farmers produced milk on commercial lines to satisfy national needs, with infrastructure designed to supply milk and by-products to the urban population, which accounts for 30% of the country’s population.

Consequently, dairies handling liquid milk and producing butter, cheese, and other dairy products were located around major towns like Bulawayo, Gweru, Kadoma, Harare, Mutare, and Chipinge.

The Dairy Act (1932) and the Dairy Marketing Board (DMB) (1952), now Dairiboard Zimbabwe Limited (DZL), were established to ensure the organized and orderly development of the dairy industry.

The DMB, a parastatal established under an Act of Parliament, needed more infrastructure and distribution capacity to supply milk and its by-products to the rural population, which accounts for over 70% of the country’s population.

Currently, DZL is in the process of being privatized in line with the current economic situation.

After 1980, the Government of Zimbabwe committed to developing the smallholder sector (communal, resettlement, and small-scale commercial) while maintaining production in the large-scale industry.

The DMB was tasked with initiating milk production development from the smallholder sector, leading to the formation of the Dairy Development Programme (DDP) to spearhead milk production in these areas.

Funds for this purpose were generated from the Bulk Milk Collection Scheme, with commercial farmers participating in the scheme leasing farm tanks from DMB and paying rental charges to finance DDP.

Now, the DDP functions under the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA), which, unlike the DMB, focuses on production rather than marketing and aligns with new deregulatory policies.

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