Almot Maqolo, Staff Writer 
ZIMBABWE’S milk production hit 10,15 million litres in August 2024, a seven-year monthly high, thanks to increased dairy herds and strategic investments.
According to the Agriculture ministry’s dairy services department, milk production during the month was up by 15,24 percent compared to 8,81 million litres in August 2023.
This figure is also a two percent increase over the previous month’s output of 9,97 million litres, making August the most productive month so far this year.
Cumulatively, milk production in the first eight months of 2024 rose by 19 percent to 75,25 million litres, up from 63,04 million litres during the same period in 2023.
Despite this growth, the dairy sector continues to face several challenges, including access to quality feed, fluctuating input costs, and occasional droughts affecting water supply.
“The year-on-year increase in milk production can be attributed to previous investments targeted at herd growth, improved efficiency, better operations management, and enhanced animal health care,” said Zimbabwe Association for Dairy Farmers’ (ZADF) chief executive, Paidamoyo Chadoka.
However, Chadoka warned that rising production costs, particularly the cost of feed, are impacting the sector.
“Dairy potential output continues to be threatened by sluggish milk producer prices against increasing costs of production. Farmers without irrigation are also being seriously affected by deteriorating pasture conditions due to El Niño-induced drought,” he noted.
Official data reveals that milk intake by processors surged 20 percent in the first eight months of 2024, reaching 69,28 million litres compared to 57,87 million litres in the same period last year. Retail milk production also grew, increasing by 16 percent to 5,97 million litres, up from 5,16 million litres.
The average milk output during the review period stood at 9,4 million litres, compared to 7,88 million litres last year. Dairy industry experts are optimistic, forecasting a 15 percent increase in milk output for 2024.
“The national milk production target for this year is 115 million litres, up from just below 100 million produced in 2023,” Chadoka added.
While the dairy herd grew by 13,4 percent between 2022 and 2023, with the milking herd reaching 39 811 cows, Zimbabwe still relies on imports to meet annual demand of approximately 120 million litres.
In 2023, the country’s milk production rose by nine percent, reaching 9,82 million litres, though this fell slightly short of the 103 million-litre target.
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