Can Dairying Have an Impact on Livelihoods of Zimbabwe's Smallholder Farmers? Chikwaka Small-scale Dairy Case Study

Abstract

Smallholder dairy projects were developed after independence to help smallholder farmers boost their economic base. Considering the number of years since the schemes were implemented, smallholder farmers should be advanced into dairying. Many members of the dairy smallholder cooperative struggle to make ends meet through dairying. Given the tiny percentage of people who are serious about dairying (22%), the study looked into the profitability of the Chikwaka smallholder dairy cooperative. A questionnaire was used to collect costs connected with normal management methods in the dairy industry. Aside from dairying, the farmers' sources of income and the frequency of their incomes per year were also noted. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20.0 for Windows and Microsoft Excel. On the basis of gross revenue (values of milk sales) and corresponding variable expenses, gross margin (GM) calculations were conducted. Despite the fact that it is a dairy village, most homes do not profit from dairying. The average household gross margin contributed a maximum of 15% to the overall household gross margin. Other households' gross margins were negative. Dairy farming could be successful if farmers employ locally sourced feedstuffs as a way of cutting costs but providing appropriate nourishment to milking cows. Dairying could be profitable if treated as the primary income generating enterprise and given appropriate attention it requires.