Diary association calls on govt to fast-track sustainable agriculture financing facility

The Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ) has urged the government to expedite the actualization of the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock

DAZ Chairperson, Doreen Kabunda, said the Livestock Loans scheme window would allow dairy farmers access support and procure more dairy cattle.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Kabunda highlighted that Zambia had more than 10,000 dairy farmers countrywide who comprise mainly small-scale farmers with only 350 large and emergent farmers combined.

“We have also taken note of the proposed measures to support development of the dairy sector as presented by the Minister of Finance and National Planning on Friday 26th September 2025,” she said.

Kabunda said the measures include 10 percent surtax on imported milk, cheese and yoghurt, increase of customs duty on cheese, yoghurt and long-life milk to 40 percent from 25 percent and removal of 15 percent customs duty on milk pasteurization machinery.

Other measure is the extension of the 2 percent local content allowance to income earned from value addition to milk.

“The Dairy Association of Zambia extends its appreciation to the Government of Zambia for undertaking to implement these measures and is calling on Parliament to adopt them,” she said.

Kabunda stated that the Association had over a period of time as far as 2018 been calling for such measures to be implemented by Government to enable the industry to grow.

She expressed confidence that this would ultimately grow the dairy industry in Zambia which in turn would provide the required sustainable supply of dairy products to the Zambian market and enhance employment for the masses.

“These measures are in line with the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) Pillar 1 for Economic Transformation and local Job creation and Pillar Il for Human Capital Development,” Kabunda noted.

She stated that the direct benefit would reach more than 60,000 beneficiaries who directly depend on dairy farming but impact the entire farming community as the industry absorbs feed produced from by-products of the maize, Sunflower, Soya beans and cotton value chains.

Kabunda welcomed the measure and called on all well-meaning Zambians all private sector players to support the measure as it sets the steps for the country to be self-sustainable in dairy and feed the whole nation.

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