Sundaymail Editor
Theseus Shambare
OVER 73 000 rural households countrywide have benefitted from a €40 million livestock development programme aimed at enhancing community livelihoods through the provision of improved animal health services.
The Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP), which is being implemented by the Government and its partners through funding from the European Union (EU), has facilitated the upgrading of 26 animal health management centres and training of veterinary staff in eight provinces.
This has resulted in the improved availability of enhanced disease control and treatment services for livestock, enabling farmers to increase their productivity and generate higher incomes.
In a speech read on his behalf during the handover of an incinerator at the Chirundu Border Post last week, EU’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Jobst von Kirchmann highlighted the impact of the collaborative efforts between the bloc and the Government on rural development.
“Our funding, as part of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme, underscores our dedication to fostering sustainable development and economic growth through international partnerships.
“With a total EU investment of €40 million, the ZAGP has supported the beef, poultry, goat, pork and dairy value chains over the past five years, in full alignment with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy. Across the country, 26 anchor animal health management centres have been upgraded, directly benefitting over 73 000 rural livestock owners by providing essential vaccines and health services.”
The programme, he said, has fostered a mutually beneficial public-private partnership model.
“These milestones have been made possible through the collective efforts of the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Government of Zimbabwe and the unrelenting spirit of local communities,” he said.
“This initiative embodies our commitment to enhancing the resilience of Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector and safeguarding the well-being of our communities.”
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri told The Sunday Mail that the Government was taking proactive steps to address challenges posed by the El Niño-induced drought and climate change.
“In collaboration with private companies, we are working to ensure that livestock in the affected areas receive adequate supplies to prevent any loss of livestock,” said Prof Jiri.
“By working in partnership with private partners, the Government aims to provide a comprehensive solution that addresses the immediate feed requirements and supports the long-term resilience of the affected areas.”
Under the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan, the Government seeks to grow the livestock industry to a US$2 billion sector by next year and achieve a national herd of 11 million by 2030.
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