Harare - Milk production in Zimbabwe faces a new challenge as inexperienced black dairy farmers abandon the industry and opt for crop production. The new farmers were given dairy farms during the fast-track land redistribution exercise.
Silas Chirume, 45, who has a farm in the Beatrice area, about 80km south-west of Harare, is one of scores of farmers who are abandoning dairy farming.
Chirume said he had acquired his farm in 2002, but was finding it increasingly difficult to continue with milk production because the number of cows in his herd had dropped from 80 to 25.
He had obtained a loan from the government to buy the dairy herd from the previous owner of the farm, who had since moved to New Zealand.
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"I started off with 80 cows, but I was forced to slay 40 of them and sell the meat to repay the loan. The other 15 were either stolen or died," said Chirume.
"I have had a difficult time trying to get stock feed, which is generally in short supply. I am failing to access enough financial support from the banks, some of which say my business has become too risky."
Stock feed is expensive because it is in short supply after two successive droughts.
Chirume said he had also been unable to provide adequate veterinary services for his cattle, because he did not have the financial resources. The situation was aggravated by a shortage of drugs and dosing chemicals.
Chirume, without the approval of the government, was now experimenting with paprika and soya beans.
A survey by the National Association of Dairy Farmers found that the number of dairy farmers was still declining, with 120 farmers, mostly black, having given up since 2000.
- Independent Foreign Service
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This article was originally published on page 6 of The Mercury on April 14, 2004
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