Dairy farmers should invest in technology: Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made has urged government farmers in the dairy industry to invest heavily in technologies and the acquisition of dairy cows to increase milk production. The need to invest heavily in state of the art machinery emerged during the second day of the 9th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition underway in Harare. Officially opening the conference, Dr Made said there is need for investment in the sector to ensure increased production of milk and at the same time value-adding the product for a competitive price on the market. “We need local firms to invest in the processing of milk which will be critical for value-addition as the nation will also realise huge returns,” he said. Dr Made said high interest rates prevailing in the local industry are affecting the growth of the industry, adding that promotion of intra-Africa trade will ease some of the challenges bedevilling the sector. “The local industry has been struggling, owing to high interest rates which have forced farmers and firms to stop borrowing.” The East and Southern Africa Dairy Association (ESADA) conference is being held under the theme, ‘Enhancing Africa’s Food Security The Milk Way.’ The dairy industry is on the rebound which has seen established firms coming up with survival strategies with a view of increasing milk production and the national herd.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 20:34:48 +0000
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