KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe dairy sector saw a 3 percent increase in milk production in January 2025.
- Local dairy production has reduced the need for imports, strengthening the economy.
- Government support continues to improve the dairy sector’s growth prospects.
Zimbabwe’s dairy sector has started 2025 on a positive note, with a 3 percent increase in milk production.
According to recent data from the Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers, the country produced 9.7 million litres of milk in January 2025, up from 9.5 million litres in the same month the previous year.
With a goal of reaching over 120 million litres in 2025, the sector remains optimistic.
The target, while slightly below the national requirement of 130 million litres, is achievable, thanks to steady growth over the past years.
Themba Mutsvairo, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust, emphasized that consistent growth, capacity building for farmers, and strategic investments will be key factors in achieving long-term sustainability.
Positive growth in local dairy production reduces imports
Zimbabwe dairy sector has also seen a significant reduction in dairy imports, attributed to the increasing availability of locally-produced products.
Alois Burutsa, general manager of Buy Zimbabwe stated that the rise in domestic dairy production since 2018 has contributed to this shift.
The decrease in dairy imports represents a positive step for national self-reliance and it will create long-term advantages for the balance of trade.
According to ZBC News, Burutsa noted that the country’s dairy industry has become more resilient due to support from the government.
The dairy industry received support through intervention programs which both minimized production expenses and implemented easier import regulations for raw materials.
As a result, local dairy products now appear on supermarkets’ shelves which decreases the requirement for importing dairy products.
Government support boosts the dairy sector’s resilience
The Zimbabwean government actively backs the dairy industry through intervention programs that decrease expenses, while raising manufacturing amounts and industry sustainability.
Important dairy input costs decreased through government regulations and new farmer assistance programs that started in 2018 to strengthen sector performance.
The government supports this initiative to ensure food security and maintain economic sustainability across Zimbabwe.
The administration enhances its partnership with dairy farmers as they work together to solve farm problems while developing a sustainable dairy industry that will last long-term.
According to Mutsvairo, these efforts will set the stage for the country to become self-sufficient in dairy production, benefiting both the local economy and the wider population.
