GOVERNMENT has been urged to invest in water infrastructure such as irrigation to improve milk production in the Matabeleland region.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
According to the Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust (ZDIT), the Matabeleland region contributed 10% of milk production in 2014 while Mashonaland, Midlands and Manicaland produced 49%, 24% and 17% respectively.
Matabeleland faces low erratic rainfall, with the anticipated Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project failing to take off amid lack of political will by Zanu PF government.
In a speech read on her behalf at a Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers annual general meeting on Wednesday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Sandi-Moyo said Matabeleland has a potential of producing milk of high quality, but water was a stumbling factor.
“Some projects such as Umzingwane Dairy Scheme have shown that it is feasible for small holder dairy farmer in the semi-arid region to produce high quality forage for dry season feeding of dairy cows, thus making dairy production a potentially viable enterprise in this region,” she said.
“There is, therefore, a serious need for investment in water infrastructure such as irrigation if the potential of dairying in Matabeleland is to be achieved.”
Moyo said the government was encouraging farmers’ unions to transfer knowledge to its members on clean energy sources such as biogas and solar for sustainable dairy production systems.
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Zimbabwe is producing 55 million litres per year and has set a target of increasing output to 200 million litres by 2020.
