Milk production falls 13 percent

Zimbabwe’s raw milk production for February 2017 dropped 12.7 percent to 4.39 million litres compared to 5.03 million litres achieved in February last year, latest figures show.

Latest data from the Dairy Services Department in the Ministry of Agriculture show that retailed milk declined by 15.4 percent to 532 075 litres from 628 914 litres produced during the same period last year, while intake by processors also dropped 12.39 percent to 3.86 million litres from 4.4 million litres in the prior year.

In January, milk production grew to 5.53 million litres compared to 5.51 million litres in January last year.

Milk production in 2016 reached 65.36 million litres, which was a 13.5 percent growth from prior year’ s 57.54 million litres.

Meanwhile, government is targeting milk production to rise to between 97 million and 100 million litres per annum by 2019, leveraging on increased national herd and sectoral protectionist measures. –The Source

(22 VIEWS)