TY - THES A1 - Mahachi, Manfred T1 - Sustainability of small scale dairy farming as a tool to improve milk production in Zimbabwe N2 - In order to ascertain if the sustainability of small scale dairy farming in Zimbabwe can be used as a tool to increase milk production, a small cross sectional survey was carried out among five small scale dairy farmers and five large scale dairy farmers in the Natural Regions I and II of Zimbabwe. The major goal of the survey was to assess the small scale and the large scale dairy farmers level of awareness on sustainability or if at all they employed sustainability practices within their farming systems. The feedback from the survey indicated that small scale farmers either knew little or nothing about sustainability practices. Dairy production is an important aspect of the Zimbabwean economy. It assures that some of the nation’s major nutritional requirements are met, farmers are economically empowered, promotes rural development and impacts positively to the gross domestic production. The thesis showed the current level of sustainability obtained at small scale dairy farms, the challenges faced by small scale dairy farmers, as well as multi-stake holder engagement and government role or involvement. Major findings revealed factors that include genetics, animal welfare, feed and feed composition, hazard analysis critical control points and knowledge were key to sustainable dairying with an inclination towards an increase in milk production. Y1 - 2023 ER -