$19m boost for livestock production

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government has mobilised $19 million through its development partners for the financing of small-holder irrigation and livestock production in two districts over the next four years. The programme is bankrolled by the European Union and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

More than 40,000 households in Nkayi and Lupane districts in Matabeleland North province will benefit from the pilot livestock production project to start in two weeks’ time.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of livestock Cde Paddy Zhanda announced the development during a meeting with interested groups in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

Cde Zhanda said the programme was expected to improve food security in the country.
“The overall objective of this project is to achieve a more productive smallholder livestock sector, increasing food, nutrition and income security at household and national level,” he said.

“My hope is that the resources, which have been allocated for this programme, can allow us to expedite the consultations towards constructing a policy framework for the coordination of various programmes and investments.”

Cde Zhanda said the programme would also reinforce Zim Asset, which gives priority to food security and nutrition.
“Within a small-holder farming sector in this region, we can therefore model our economic empowerment, infrastructure development on livestock and providing training to small-scale farmers.

“We want to have farmers who seek knowledge, demand technology and produce high quality animals and products, which can compete favourably in any market,” said Cde Zhanda.

He said livestock production was key towards economic development and improving people’s livelihoods.
FAO livestock production officer Dr Elma Sikala said every household in Lupane and Nkayi will benefit from the pilot project.
She said the programme will place special emphasis on supporting 40,000 subsistence farmers who practise mixed crop-livestock production.

“Both districts are characterised by low rainfall, frequent mid-season dry spells and extensive crop failure. Crop production in these districts is risky and the province is one of the most food insecure in the country,” said Dr Sikala.

She said livestock support programmes in the past have been few and short-term in nature.
Dr Sikala said the four-year programme will accommodate a long term livestock production cycle.

The director of livestock production and development division in the Ministry of Agriculture Bothwell Makodza said the country should adopt a business approach to livestock production.