The dairy industry in Zimbabwe is facing sustainability challenges due to rising costs, which account for 70% of total expenses, with feed stock being the primary contributor.
The high production costs have led to local dairy products becoming uncompetitive against cheaper imports, particularly from South Africa.
Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) chief executive officer Paidamoyo Chadoka has expressed concern about the impact of these rising costs on the industry’s viability. As a result, the local market has seen an influx of affordable dairy products from neighboring countries.
“Zimbabwe lacks competitiveness due to the unsustainably high cost of production compared to regional counterparts,” she said.
“Our cost of production is mainly driven by stock feeds costs, labour and cost of power, critical components which are too high when compared to other countries.
“The producer price of milk per litre in Zimbabwe averages US$0,60 compared with an average price of US$0,40 per litre in South Africa, US$0,36 in Zambia, US$0,50 in Botswana and a world average of US$0,46 per litre.
“The high-cost environment pushes our producer prices to be among the highest in the region. At this price most farmers are struggling to break even. The high costs of feed also compromise our milk yields significantly when compared to other regional players.”
She said ZADF has launched a nationwide artificial insemination initiative aimed at improving the nation’s dairy cow population and milk production.
The program seeks to elevate milk output to meet the country’s increasing demand. The program is in collaboration with key development partners such as We Effect under an International Monetary Fund project.
ZADF says Zimbabwe recorded a 9% surge in milk production to 99,82 million litres in 2023 from 91,39 million litres the previous year. However, the country’s annual milk requirement hovers around 120 million litres, and imports are currently bridging the gap.
Chadoka highlighted the association’s efforts to make semen available at subsidised rates.
She emphasized that artificial insemination was an efficient method to boost dairy cattle herds, noting that ZADF was targeting all farmers, including beef producers interested in dairy genetics.
“ZADF is working with all dairy farmers and some beef farmers who are willing to take up dairy genetics across the country,” she said.
“ZADF is targeting farmers in the traditional milk producing regions as well as greenfield regions taking up milk production for the first time.”
SOURCE : NEWSDAY
