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ZIMBABWE’s raw milk production for the first two months of the year rose 2.8 percent to 8,8 million litres compared to 8.5 million recorded last year. Statistics from the Dairy Services Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development show that total intake of milk by processors was up 2.2 percent to 7.6 million litres in the review period from 7.78 million litres.

Milk retailed by producers also increased by 7.9 percent from 945,177 litres to 1,02 million litres.

Month-on-month, production for February was down 12.2 percent at 4.1 million litres compared to 4.7 million litres produced in January.

Despite the growth in production, Zimbabwe is still lagging behind other countries in the region in terms of output.

Last year, there was a notable increase in production as processors like Dairibord, Nestle and Dendairy also embarked on heifer importation schemes, a move that is expected to contribute to a higher output this year.

Annual milk output for 2014 stood at 55.5 million litres up from 54,66 million litres in 2013.

The dairy industry is currently operating at 45 percent capacity, with an estimated 223 registered dairy operators and a dairy herd of about 26,000.

At its peak in 1999, Zimbabwe produced over 150 million litres of milk annually and was exporting into the region and beyond.

The government is currently working on a livestock policy to drive the industry towards efficiency of production as well as growing the capacities of small-scale dairy farmers. — BH24.