HARARE - The European Unions $600 000 support of small-scale dairy farmers in the last two years has contributed to an increase in the production of milk in the sector.
The National Association of Dairy Farmers (NADF) President, Ajs Kirk, said the sector was now contributing two percent to national milk production. He said the sector had been hit by economic meltdown in the last decade but has since recovered on the back of donor support.
National milk output stands at 3.5 million litres per month and small scale farmers are now producing 57 000 litres per month from zero following support from EU fund, Kirk said. Kirk added that some centres including Risitu Valley, Gokwe and Guruve
have been re-established after their closure.
The centres have since established a revolving fund to purchase cattle, stock feed and drugs, Kirk added. Mashonaland West Livestock Production Head, Passmore Gahadzikwa, said dairy farming was a capital intensive business and individual farmers could go it alone without support from donors. He advised small -cale farmers to form syndicates and pool their resources to revive the dairy sector. Gahadzikwa said farmers also need expertise and should undergo training in dairy and livestock management.
Most of the dairy cattle were lost during the chaotic land reform programme in 2000. Some of the cattle were slaughtered while others were sold after people who grabbed commercial farms failed to manage them properly.
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