Manicaland is positioning itself as a major dairy production hub, with the province now producing 36 million litres of milk annually and plans underway to establish a new processing plant in Mutare.
In a statement yesterday, after a tour of Franklin Farm in Mutasa South Constituency, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Misheck Mugadza said the province’s dairy sector was expanding, with large-scale farmers and indigenous dairy enterprises contributing significantly to national milk production.
“I was also impressed by Franklin Farm’s dairy enterprise of over 1,000 dairy cattle producing large volumes of high-quality milk. Manicaland now yields 36 million litres annually, making us Zimbabwe’s second-largest dairy producer at 27% of national output,” he said.
He said several indigenous businesses were also making progress, while established companies were investing in modern production and processing equipment.
“Indigenous operations including Cynara and Risitu Dairies are thriving, while Dairibord Chipinge has upgraded to modern machinery,” the Minister added.
Mugadza said the next phase of growth would focus on expanding processing capacity so that more of the milk produced in the province could be converted into finished products locally.
“A new dairy processing plant will be established in Mutare soon,” he said.
He said the investment would help Manicaland move towards dairy self-sufficiency while creating opportunities for the province to supply markets beyond its borders.
“Manicaland will no longer import dairy products; we will export finished products across the country, turning the Eastern Highlands into a regional food production powerhouse under the Second Republic’s vision,” he added.
The province’s dairy expansion comes as Zimbabwe continues to encourage investment in agriculture and agro processing, with increased local production expected to support food security, create employment and reduce dependence on imported products.
Manicaland’s growing dairy industry therefore provides a platform for increased investment in livestock production, processing and distribution, with the province seeking to build on its position as Zimbabwe’s second-largest milk producer.
