Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe,Senior Business Writer
Agriculture, Lands, and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Davis Marapira has urged the livestock sector to scale up production and make a meaningful contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP).
Speaking at the inaugural ZITF Livestock Conference in Bulawayo on Friday, Dep Min Marapira stressed the need to boost the national herd, which currently stands at 5.7 million.
He noted the sector’s crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods but stressed the need for significant growth.
“Current figures are not contributing to the economy. There is no growth in the livestock sector,” he said.
He urged farmers to drive expansion and improve productivity.
“We need farmers to bring growth so there is a contribution to the GDP. We have about 5.7 million cattle while Tanzania has around 32 million and Kenya over 25 million. Yet, we are still talking about 5.7 million. There is no growth.”
Looking ahead, he called for solutions to the sector’s challenges.
“As we look to the future, we must confront challenges affecting the growth of the sector,” he added.
The Government’s plan to grow the country’s national herd to 11 million cattle by 2030 is progressing well with various programmes in place to ensure that the country meets national beef demand.
To grow the national herd, the Government is spearheading an artificial insemination programme to farmers in rural areas, the process involves cross breeding with semen from selected quality bulls.
Government is expecting the livestock industry to grow to US$3,4 billion by 2025 after the sector makes positive strides in improving productivity and combating cattle mortality following the outbreak of tick borne diseases which ravaged almost half a million of cattle since 2016.
derick.khumalo