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Elton Manguwo
WITH poverty deaths among cattle fast becoming a common occurrence in the country’s arid regions, the department of agricultural education is undertaking research on fodder production to improve animal nutrition and boost efforts to re-build the national herd.
In an interview with The Herald, director of Agriculture Education in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Jotamu Dondofema said trials on fodder crops production were currently underway.
“The trials are part of livestock research at Esigodini Agricultural College in collaboration with Matopo Research Station,” said Dr Jotamu.
Lecturers from four colleges are providing overall supervision and guidance to the participating students throughout the research and growing stage.
“First year students are already able to establish and collect research trial data from planting up to harvesting and do performance evaluation as part of their projects,” said Dr Jotamu.
The production of feed is expected to reduce the cost of commercial feed and will improve cattle production, production and profitability to enable farmers to realise the full value of their livestock.
“Research in forage legume production is key in providing cattle with the much needed crude protein source during the dry period when the quality of grazing grass is relatively poor,” said Dr Jotamu.
Livestock farming is at the centre of the rural population’s economic activities, as it serves as a source of income, draft power and milk therefore it is imperative to protect the cattle sector from poverty deaths.
As the need to climate-proof agriculture continues to grow globally, the Government is reorienting the country’s agriculture colleges to champion the drive for the adoption of conservation agriculture throughout the country.
“The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Research and Technology is supporting Agriculture Education 5, 0 that now encompasses innovation and learner centred education with a problem solving approach,” said Dr Jotamu.
The research initiative is very helpful to smallholder farmers in natural regions three, four and five where erratic rainfall is common year after year.
Recently, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary, Dr John Basera remarked that climate change was indeed a reality and that the livestock sub-space needed to adapt or else it would not grow.
These efforts highlight Government’s support towards the adoption of climate smart technologies in agricultural production as the world moves towards sustainable agricultural production.
The Government has since capacitated 300 000 rural smallholder cattle farmers across the country with inputs under the Presidential Fodder Bank Programme to produce fodder, as efforts to climate-proof the livestock sub-sector gather
Under the programme a standard input package comprising climate smart pasture and feed options was distributed to farmers to produce on-farm feed formulations, promote improved fertility and improve carcass quality and weight.
Online Reporter