The Zimbabwe dairy industry has declined significantly since 1980, with milk production falling from 156,000 metric tons in 1980 to only 52,000 metric tons in 2012. The industry is structured around milk collection and distribution, processing, retailing, input supply, and consumption. Milk production comes from both a large-scale commercial sector and a smallholder sector, with the commercial sector accounting for 97-98% of the market. Several organizations provide support services to the industry, including farmers' cooperations, the National Dairy Authority, and non-governmental organizations.

1. THE ZIMBABWE DAIRY
INDUSTRY
Gororo Eddington, November 2013

2. Industry size
2
Year
Milk (‘000 mt)
1980
156
Cows
(‘000)
106
Reg.
farmers
-
1990
262
122
521
1995
200
101
376
2000
177
42
314
2005
100
-
279
2010
47
-
236
2011
51
23
233
2012
52
23
233

3. Industry structure
3
Milk collection
and distribution
Milk
Processing
Retailing and
marketing
Input supply
Consumption

4. Input supply
4








Feed compounding and marketing
Fertilisers
Seed companies
Agro-chemicals
Breeding supplies and services
Veterinary services
Dairy equipment and spares
Etc.

5. Input supply
5

6. Milk Production
6

A dual industry that vary with scale of
production.
1.
2.

Large scale commercial sector
Smallholder sector
Informal sector
 not
regarded as part of the industry

7. Large-scale Dairy Sector
7



Large specialized farms
Capitalisation and mechanisation
Specialist dairy breeds and their crosses
 Holstein-Frisian,


Jersey, Red Dane, Ayrshire
Milk yields > 4000 kg
Share of market: 97-98 %

8. Large-scale Dairy Sector
8

A high level of vertical integration
 Forward:
to milk processing and distribution e.g.
Alpha Omega Dairies, Dendairy, Clavelshay Dairy
 Backwards: to feed production e.g., Dendairy
(through Ice Feeds)

>200 non-operational dairy farms

9. Large-scale Dairy Sector
9

Registered as
Producer-retailers
producer-distributors
producer- processors

10. Smallholder Dairy Sector
10



Small scale dairy projects initiated in 1982 under
the then Dairy Marketing Board (now Dairibord
Holdings Ltd)
Each farmer has 1-5 specialized dairy cows and
their crosses
Total projects countrywide = 35
 But in 2012 only 17 were operational with a
combined active (delivering) membership of
485 producers.

11. Smallholder Dairy Sector
11
Milk yields: 1,800-2,500litres/lactation
 Milk is sold locally
 to neighbours and/or
 through milk collection centers (farmers’
cooperatives)

process
it or sell to processing
companies.

Contributes only 2-3 % of marketed milk
production.

12. Collection and distribution
12


Small scale farmers: bring milk to collection
centre/dairy in ox-drawn carts or by bicycle or
car
Large scale farms: milk collected in cooled
milk tankers every 2-3 days by
 NFB
Logistics (DZL)
 NDC (DZL, Nestle, Kefalos, etc.)
 Own car/lorry (cans)

Backward and forward integration in the value
chain.

13. 13
Dairy Processing and
Reconstitution

14. Processed Product Range
14


34 registered processors with capacity to process
400 million litres p. a.
Liquid milks
UHT – e.g. Steri, Longlife
 Pasteurised – e.g., Chimombe, flavoured milks
 Fermented milks –
Inkomasi, Lacto, Hodzeko, Maas, yorghurts, drinking
yorghurts




Powder – full cream, skim milk powder, low
fat, substitute creamers
Other products – cheese, dairy flavoured
drinks, dairy-fruit juices, butter, ice cream
Presentation

Plastic bottles, plastic satchets, PVC cups, cartons

15. Marketing & distribution
15

16. Support functions
16

CFU, ZFU, ZCFU



NADF
The aims and objectives of the NADF are to promote,
advance and develop the production of milk and dairy
products in Zimbabwe and to advance and protect the
interests of all sections and categories of producers
and by so doing play a pivotal anchor role in the dairy
industry in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Dairy Services Agency





Farmers’ organizations
Regulatory (Dairy Act and Dairy Regulations)
Monitoring and registration (Quality scheme)
Zimbabwe Dairy Herd Improvement Program (ZDHI)
Training
Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust

17. Support Services
17

NDC (National Dairy Co-operative Ltd)
 bulk
tank hire
 bulk milk collection

Dairy Development Programme (DDP)
 promote
milk production in small scale
commercial farms, resettlement and communal
areas
 Promote the processing and marketing of milk by
these farmers

Government – research, technical extension,
veterinary services, education and training,
regulation

18. Support Services
18

Bilateral and Non-Governmental Organizations
 Heifer
Project International
 Technoserve
 Land O’Lakes
 European Union
 USAID
 ZimACP (Zimbabwe Agricultural Competitive
Programme)

19. Support services
19

20. Contact me
20
Eddington Gororo
Department of Animal Production and
Technology
Chinhoyi University of Technology
Private Bag 7724 Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
Email: gororoeddington@gmail.com
Mobile Tel. +263 77 3 916375