Local cheese production in trouble

Zimbabwe is currently importing 41 million litres of milk, milk solids and butter oil, up from the 31 million litres imported in 2010.
In an exclusive interview with The Zimbabwean, Mercy Ndoro, DZHL’s Group Finance Director, confirmed that the major reason for the reduced cheese production was due to “reduced raw milk intake”.
Insiders said the DZHL Kadoma cheese factory was closed, but the major milk producer refused to confirm this and said the facility was only “mothballing”. “We have not shelved cheese production,” said Ndoro. “Currently we are producing at our Mutare Factory albeit in small quantities. The reason for reduced production of cheese is due to reduced raw milk intake which is not adequate to meet demand. The Kadoma Cheese Factory is mothballed following this challenge.”
The country is currently producing on average 3,6 million litres of raw milk per month, of which DZHL is receiving an average of 1,6 million litres or 44 percent, Ndoro confirmed. In 2006 national milk production was estimated to be 86 million litres and in 2010 this dropped to 47 million litres.
Ndoro said the Chitungwiza Plant, which produces powder milk, had also been placed under “care and maintenance”.
“This is following the decline of the raw milk intake,” Ndoro said. “It should be noted, however, that both cheese and powdered milk consume more milk per kilogramme relative to other product lines.”