By Adeva Gwenzi
Zimbabwe’s Dairy Value Chain players including government, processors, farmers commemorated World Milk Day #WMD on the 3rd of June 2022 at the Harare Gardens.
The action for this year’s celebrations was to reduce carbon footprint through sustainable dairy farming practices.
“Zimbabwe dairy sector is committed to the sustainable development of the dairy sector such that it generates widespread benefits for people and the planet. The Earth is what we all have in common, “Think milk, drink milk”
Transforming Zimbabwe’s Dairy Value Chain (TranZ DVC) project under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP) funded by the European Union has made efforts to promote sustainable dairy farming.
TranZDVC efforts in this regard include the use of biogas. The project has partnered with a company called Energy Yakachena where twelve farmers have currently benefitted matching grant funds at a 70:30% match for biogas.
This initiative will contribute towards reduction of carbon emissions.
The gas is being used for cooking and lighting at household level for small holder dairy farmers. More farmers are expected to benefit from this initiative.
The project also effected Solarisation of all Milk Collection Centres and some dairy households.
TranZ DVC also partnered with a company called Mobility for Africa to provide solar powered tricycles to dairy farmers, milk aggregators and Milk Collection Centers (MCCs).
Expected impact of these technologies towards agriculture intensification and environmental management include:
Biogas: Land-use change, notably reducing deforestation caused by cutting down trees for firewood to heat water for cleaning dairy utensils (use of boilers) and also firewood for cooking. This has been accounted for a further 4% increase of global GHG emissions (WRI: 2014). AT A GLANCE: BIOGAS CAN REDUCE GLOBAL GHG EMISSIONS BY 18-20% AND PROVIDE RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM cow dung
Solar energy: reduces the demand for fossil fuels, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and shrink carbon footprint.
Electric powered tricycle: Reducing pressure of fossils fuels and carbon emissions from these
Electric powered tricycles for climate friendly milk transportation from farm to market (MCC)
