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Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Bureau
KWEKWE-based dairy processor Dendairy has started an ambitious programme dubbed the “Milk School Programme” where it is distributing small sachets of milk to schools at subsidised rates.

The milk school programme has already been rolled out in some schools in Harare and the Midlands and plans are underway to take the programme to Matabeleland Provinces.

Dendairy managing director Mr Darren Coetzee said he was hoping that by the end of 2018 every school in the country would be covered under the programme.

“We have got new machinery, which is pocket pouch that accommodates small quantities like your 100 millilitres of milk. So we are offering these to schools at much discounted rates as we feel that they need to drink milk every day. It is something that we experienced when we were youngsters when we received milk at school and we want to revive it so that they at least have something when they go to school every day,” he said.

“We have started a milk programme this year, which took off slowly in Harare and now it has covered schools in the Midlands. We are developing it so that by the end of 2018 every child will get a packet of milk everyday by the third term.”

Meanwhile, the dairy processor is refurbishing Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre with a view to training dairy farmers in the Midlands.

Mr Coetzee said the move would go a long way towards boosting milk production in the country.

“We are refurbishing and rebuilding Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre so that we establish a dairy centre there. We want to train new dairy farmers so that in the near future we grow the dairy industry,” he added.

There has been a steady growth in the dairy industry, which has seen milk production jump from 35 million litres per year in 2010 to 70 million litres last year. The country requires at least 100 million litres per annum to meet local demand.