eBusiness Weekly
Kudzi Sharara
NYANGA – The local dairy industry is targeting to double its production capacity by 2022, this is according to Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers chief executive officer Paidamoyo Chadoka.
Currently Zimbabwe is producing 68 million litres of milk against national demand of 120 million litres, according to Chadoka.
“As dairy farmers we have the vision to double this national milk production by 2022 at the right price and the right quality,” she said.
The Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) is currently holding its annual general meeting at the Troutbeck resort, in Nyanga, under the theme “Moving Dairy Towards Better Understanding by 2030.”
Speaking ahead of the AGM, Chadoka said the meeting is an opportunity for dairy farmers to meet and raise their dairy farming concerns with policy makers as a lobby and advocacy platform to promote a more conducive environment for national milk production to increase.
She said some of the issues that will come up for discussion include but are not limited to high farm level costs of milk production and how this can be reduced.
“The cost of stock feed accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the dairy production costs therefore various aspects of the raw materials used will be deliberated on,” said Chadoka.
“The command livestock and how farmers can effectively benefit will also be topical as well as issues to do with land tenure security.”
Chadoka said lack of investment confidence at farm level due to land tenure security was also an issue of concern that will come up for discussions.
“We will also deliberate on how the foreign currency shortages impact the dairy production.”
The meeting was expected to be addressed by guest of honour President Emmerson Mnangagwa as well as Agriculture and Rural Settlement Minister Perrence Shiri.
