VIABILITY OF SMALLHOLDER DAIRYING IN WEDZA, ZIMBABWE

VIABILITY OF SMALLHOLDER DAIRYING IN WEDZA, ZIMBABWE

PLAXEDIS IVY ZVINOROVA

TINYIKO EDWARD HALIMANI

RENNETH T. MANO

NOBBERT TAKARWIRWA NGONGONI

Viability differences in smallholder dairy farming
are a result of differences in access to markets and services.
It is hypothesized that innovations that improve productivity
and market linkages also improve returns and viability. The
viability of smallholder dairying in Wedza was characterised
by interviewing 52 households using semi-structured ques-
tionnaires. Information on demographics, production, mar-
keting, livestock numbers, assets and constraints was
obtained. Farmers were resource-constrained with differen-
ces in access to resources. The highly resourced farmers had
higher milk output and numbers of livestock. Almost 40 %
of the households were female-headed, and these dominated
the poor category. Household sizes ranged from 4 to 13
persons. Milk off-take was low (3.7±0.53 l/cow/day), due
to various constraints. Only rich farmers had viable enter-
prises in purely financial terms. Per litre cost of milk was
more than selling price (US$0.96) for most farmers except
the relatively rich. Operating ratios were 1.7, 0.6, 1.4 and
1.1 for the poor, rich, sub-centre and milk collection centre
farmers, respectively. This means incomes from the dairy
activities did not cover costs. Sensitivity analysis indicated
that increases in total variable costs and labour reduced
returns. Milk production and viability were influenced by
access to resources and markets.

Trop Anim Health Prod

2013