Nothando Zondo, cherrelncz@gmail.com
GOVERNMENT efforts to industrialise rural communities through targeted dairy interventions are beginning to show tangible results in Mlomoliwoto, Umzingwane District. The Presidential Silage Inputs Scheme — introduced to improve both the quality and availability of livestock feed — has reshaped the local dairy sector by providing subsidised silage inputs, enabling farmers to maintain consistent, nutritious feeding regimes for their herds and significantly boost milk production.
The initiative also tackles viability constraints linked to soaring feed costs, with stockfeed accounting for around 70 percent of overheads in the dairy industry. As part of its broader objective, Government aims to increase national milk output from about 122 million litres in 2025 to 200 million litres by 2030 through the provision of fodder growing inputs and targeted farmer training.
This support framework has contributed to the growth of dairy enterprises such as that of Mrs Thandekile Musakanda of Umzingwane District, who has steadily expanded her herd and increased milk output. She began her dairy venture with two in calf heifers in December 2024. She added two more in calf heifers in March 2025, followed by another pair in August 2025, before acquiring three in calf milking cows in November 2025.
“We started milking the first two heifers in May 2025, and milk output averaged 18 litres of milk per cow per day. By the end of December 2025, we were getting 200 litres of milk on average from nine cows,” said Mrs Musakanda.
Her cattle are fed a variety of fodder crops, including banana grass, brachiaria grass, sorghum, calliandra tree, velvet bean and maize grown under drip irrigation — all aimed at diversifying and strengthening feed rations.
“We mix our own feed on the farm with minimal purchase of commercial cattle feeds. The bulk of our raw materials come from the crops we grow on the plot. Our cattle are non-grazing,” she said.
Mrs Musakanda has also invested heavily in infrastructure to support her operation.
“We have constructed shelter for our cattle, including cattle pens with sheds, paddocks, a milking parlour, milk room, calf pens, and store rooms for cattle feed. We also vaccinate regularly and dip them every Tuesday using a knapsack spray. However, if funds permit, we plan to acquire a spray race as the herd grows,” she said.
She added that dairy farming offered multiple income streams, from raw milk sales to value added products such as pasteurised milk, cheese and yoghurt, making it a viable business model.
However, she noted that her operations were limited by the restricted milk intake capacity at the Mawabeni milk centre. Despite this, she urged aspiring dairy farmers to follow proper livestock management practices.
“Understand that cattle rearing is no child’s play, but it’s a profitable venture in the long run. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme; focus on building the numbers first,” she said.
Her story reflects the tangible impact of Government’s drive to empower rural communities through dairy production, demonstrating what can be achieved with adequate support and determination.
Umzingwane Agritex extension officer, Mr Bhekilizwe Ncube, said the dairy sector had historically been dominated by white commercial farmers but highlighted increasing opportunities for black farmers under current Government programmes.
“With the advent of land reform, everything is possible because all resources are now at the farmers’ disposal. We have land, Government support through inputs, and trained extension officers to give farmers technical backup. We applaud Mrs Musakanda for grabbing this opportunity and venturing into dairy farming. So, we are moving forward; soon we will have industrialised rural areas as per Vision 2030,” said Mr Ncube.
The post Rural dairy output rises as Presidential Silage Scheme bears fruit in Umzingwane appeared first on herald.
The post Rural dairy output rises as Presidential Silage Scheme bears fruit in Umzingwane appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.