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Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter
Dairy farmers have been challenged to boost milk production to meet the country’s requirement of 180 million litres a year.

Addressing hundreds of delegates attending this year’s World Milk Day celebrations at Chitungwiza Central Hospital on Monday, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the country’s milk production remained low.

The annual milk production in Zimbabwe is 54 million litres against the required 180 million litres.

“The gap between demand versus supply should be seen as a huge opportunity for business in the dairy sector,” Dr Parirenyatwa said.

Zimbabwe’s milk production lags behind neighbouring countries such as South Africa, where Zimbabwe imports a huge chunk of its dairy products to bridge the local deficit.

At point Zimbabwe produced over 150 million litres of milk annually and exported the excess milk and dairy products to the region.

Dr Parirenyatwa said milk played a vital role in the nutritional status of the country.

He said malnutrition put children at greater risk of dying from common infections and increased the frequency and severity of such infections. Government statistics indicate that nearly half of all deaths in children under five years are attributable to malnutrition.

“Milk is an affordable nutritious food which can be used as a vehicle towards the fight against malnutrition and food insecurity,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

Milk is rich in proteins, which are fundamental in strengthening muscles, skin, hair and cellular components.

Dr Parirenyatwa, however, warned against buying milk from the informal market arguing that it quickly got contaminated hence posed serious health risks.

“I would like to emphasise that food safety must never be compromised,” he said.

This year’s commemorations ran under the theme: Milk for our Bread and Butter .

Dairy farmers and processors, including Alpha and Omega, Nestle, Dendairy and Keifalos exhibited various milk products during the commemorations.

Earlier, the Zimbabwe Dairy Industry Trust (ZDIT) donated several milk products to Chitungwiza Central Hospital’s paediatric department and pledged to continue donating different products every month.

The hospital’s chief executive officer, Dr Obadiah Moyo, commended the ZDIT for the assistance towards infants in hospital.