This may be interpreted as holding onto potential for expansion. Total milk production for the formal market for 2000 is likely to be 152-155 million litres, which, if maintained at this level, may well be short in meeting the demand for local and export markets. However, producer confidence for the future is being seriously eroded by the current uncertainty in the economy, the political direction of the nation and resolution of the land issue. Supplies of stockfeeds appear stable, but regular price increases in this vital input continues to threaten the fragile viability of fresh milk production. All these ingredients added together signal the potential for a mini-boom in the dairy industry.
Bookings are non-existent with only sporadic deliveries of smallstock.
Demand is also very low, as expected after Christmas. Smallstock producers are also extremely concerned about the vaccine supply problem with diseases such as pulpy kidney, blue tongue and Rift Valley fever absolute essentials. The processing industry in Mashonaland is optimistic that they will receive their required number of birds this coming year. It is evident that last year was a successful breeding year and that there are sufficient to a surplus of chicks on the ground this year. The question will be at what price and how viable will this be for the producer.