Perspectives on Reducing the National Milk Deficit and Accelerating the Transition to a Sustainable Dairy Value Chain in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The Zimbabwean dairy industry is massively underperforming, as evidenced by a reduction in milk yield from 262 million liters in 1990 to <37 million liters in 2009 and a steady but slow increase to 82 million liters in 2021. The current demand for milk in Zimbabwe stands at 130 million liters, and there is a national capacity for processing 400 million liters per annum. This study used literature, stakeholder inputs and expert knowledge to provide a perspective on practical options to reduce the national milk deficit and, simultaneously, accelerate the transition to a sustainable dairy value chain in Zimbabwe. Following a discussion on the key barriers and constraints to developing the milk value chain, we explored opportunities to improve the performance of the underperforming smallholder and medium-scale dairy farmers. Specifically, we discussed innovative management, creative policy instruments and alternative technological options to maximize milk production in Zimbabwe. We also highlight the need for an inclusive and creatively organized dairy value chain to optimize stakeholder linkages and improve information flow and equity. Examples of crucial investments and incentive structures for upgrading the existing value chain and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and carbon uptake are discussed. Furthermore, the socio-economic effects (i.e., profitability, women empowerment and employment creation), milk quality, safety and traceability issues linked to a better organized and performing dairy value chain are highlighted.

A comprehensive case study on the sustainability of tropical dairy cattle farming in Oaxaca, Mexico

“…Several studies have documented the low productivity yields of tropical bovine dairy farming. At the farm level, low milk yields and calving rates, late age at first calving, and long calving intervals prevail and are directly related to nutritional aspects, inappropriate use of breeds, poor farm management, limited disease control, and little technical support (BATEKI et al, 2020;CHIRINDA et al, 2021). These production systems are also characterized by great dependency of external farming inputs and thus remain poorly sustainable and frequently become low-margin endeavors (BAUTISTA et al, 2019).…”

Potential Forage Hybrid Markets for Enhancing Sustainability and Food Security in East Africa

“…Against this background, a technological change in food systems is needed to overcome the problems of food insecurity and malnutrition. The transition from traditional or low-productive pastures to sustainable forage-based cattle systems with high performance and nutritional quality is one solution that can help the situation [ 18 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The adoption of improved forage materials by cattle producers allows for obtaining quality animal feed and thus food of animal origin in higher quantities and quality.…”

Effects of Environment on Productive Performance of Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cows in Three Agro-Ecological Regions of Zimbabwe

“…For farmers, knowledge of environmental effects on performance of animals can significantly increase efficiency of genetic improvement programs. Historically, the Zimbabwe dairy industry has been dual in nature, comprising large scale commercial farms and smallholder multi-enterprise farms that varied with scale of production (Chirinda et al, 2021), Zvinorova et al (2013) observed that several dairy farming systems coexist in the country, being shaped by agro-ecological diversity, differences in human settlement patterns and population density, land tenure, resource endowments, and the resultant economic opportunities available for farmers. Consequently, Gororo (2016) proposed a new dairy classification model where farms are demarcated by dairy herd size and defined in terms of business objectives, production levels, labour organization, feeding systems, resource endowments, use of technology and marketing.…”

“…In that classification scheme, dairy farms are categorized by scale into subsistence (< five dairy animals), small scale (family farms, 5-10 dairy animals); intermediate or medium scale (modest investment in dairy, 10-100 dairy animals); and large scale (corporate or family farms, >100 dairy animals). Medium to large scale dairy operations dominate the industry, producing 95-97% of all formally marketed milk in the country (Chirinda et al, 2021). These farms are more mechanized, capitalized and employ semiskilled and skilled labour for all year-round milk production using planted pastures, maize silage, forages and concentrates as feed resources.…”

“…Since the mid-1990s, Zimbabwe's dairy production has been declining and the demand-supply gap for milk and milk products in the country has been widening. Milk yield declined from 262 million liters in 1990 to <37 million liters in 2009 followed by a steady but slow increase to 82 million liters in 2021 (Chirinda et al, 2021). Viability and competitiveness challenges, and agrarian reforms led to farm closures, down-sizes, stagnation and shortage of new entrants.…”