Agriculture expert, Leonard Chimwaza, believes collaborative effort among stakeholders in the dairy industry can boost production and profitability.
His comments come following a concern from dairy farmers in Chiradzulu District over what they term as continued low prices buyers are offering for the commodity.
Dairy farmer, Ellaton Paul Manyumba, told MBC Digital that, despite investing more on feed and vaccines, they sell milk at K700 per litre, a price he described as meagre.
Manyumba, , who suggested a K1,000 per litre price as reasonable, further said it is frustrating that they cannot do anything about it because the power lies in the hands of buyers to determine prices.
Chimwaza agreed, observing that the existing National and Regional Milk Producers Associations have proved to be short of negotiating powers for better prices and therefore all stakeholders need to come together for a win-win situation.
Some milk processors we contacted refused to comment.
However, Jacqueline Kapida Msiska, Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer for Chiradzulu, pledged to continue coordinating stakeholders to ensure the industry operates to everyone’s benefit.
Malawi Milk Producers National Director, Herbert Chagona, acknowledged that the current K725 per litre price remains low but urged farmers to be patient.
“For the first time in a very long time, the government intervened on this stalemate by setting the minimum price of milk at K800 per litre in April 2025. In June, milk processors committed to raising the price but on gradual basis, for fear of disrupting their operations.
“From May to November, prices have been adjusted upwards from K490, K590, K650, K700 to the current K725. There is hope that by December, prices may reach K800,” he added.
Chagona further observed that despite incurring a high cost of production in feed and vaccines, farmers remain committed to the trade. On this note, he promised to continue engaging processors, saying better prices would attract farmers to start selling their commodity at Milk Bulking Groups.
Currently, some of the farmers are opting to trade on the black market where they are offered K1,000 to K2,000 for a litre of milk.
He believes selling milk in groups would increase the annual volume from 66 million litres in 2024 to 80 or 100million litres this year, serving more people.
By Chrissie Mainjeni, Chiradzulu
