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Brighton Gumbo Business Reporter—
MILK production in Zimbabwe has increased by an average of 4.3 percent to 5.1 million litres for the eight months to August 31, 2015 compared to 4.9 million litres in the same period last year. The Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) national chairman, Emanuel Zimbandu, told Business Chronicle the increase was driven by the heifer importation programme. “We’ve recorded a steady 4.3 percent increase in raw milk production in the eight months to August 2015,” he said.

“Last year, for the same period under review we recorded 4,856,577 litres of milk produced and this year we recorded 5,066,932 litres of milk. This was largely as a result of the growth of a wide range of dairy heifer schemes, which are now contributing to production.”

In January this year 4,689 million litres of milk were produced compared to 4,586 million litres produced in the same period last year, which accounts for a 2.2 percentage increase.

In February 4,115 million litres were produced compared to 3,971 million litres in February last year. In March 4,605 million litres of milk were produced compared to 4,510 million litres produced in the same period in 2014. In April, milk production increased by a marginal 0,05 percent compared to the same period last year with production during the month standing at 4,573 million litres from 4,571 million litres in April 2014. In May, 4,762 million litres of milk were produced compared to 4,604 million litres produced during the same period last year.

In June milk production improved by 7.63 percent compared to the same period last year with 4,859 million litres of milk produced during the month compared to 4,515 million litres during the same period in 2014.

July registered 4,894 million litres compared to 4,706 million litres produced in the same period last year. According to figures compiled by ZADF, the total amount of milk produced during the first eight months of this year is 37,568 million. However, Zimbandu said the association has noted that dairy farmers continue to face finance challenges as a result of high interest rates.

“The major challenge facing the dairy farmers is capital. Interest rates, which banks are charging are too high and as result farmers are discouraged to borrow from banks because of the fear of accumulating debts.

“Once the issue of farmers interests rates is addressed then we’re certain that the performance of the dairy industry is going to improve,” he said. In 1990, the country was producing over 256 million litres and exporting into the region and beyond before plummeting to an all-time low of 36 million litres in 2009 as the economic environment declined.

Production has since improved marginally to approximately 55.5 million litres in 2014. In 2014 Zimbabwe’s annual raw milk production increased 1.5 percent compared to 2013 mainly due to increased availability of inputs locally. During the period under review, 55.5 million litres of milk were produced compared to 54.7 million litres produced the previous year.