Arda bullish in livestock production

Nkosilathi Sibanda, Business Correspondent
THE Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda) has committed to assist Government efforts to boost livestock production by fully utilising resources at its disposal, as the parastatal has put plans to implement sustainable smart agricultural practices.

Arda chief executive officer Mr Tinotenda Mhiko told Sunday News Business last week that it has dawned on the institution that it has to effectively put to use all its land to consolidate its relevancy in the economy. Mr Mhiko said Arda has the capacity to outdo major corporates in the agricultural value chain but only needed to apply sustainable solutions.

Under its animal husbandry and crop production enterprises, the company has 142 000 hectares of land of which Mr Mhiko said only 13 000 hectares were being utilised.

“The vision is to overhaul this unsustainable state of affairs through applying technological innovations and implementing smart agricultural practices to boost national food security,” said Mr Mhiko.

He said boreholes were drilled in various wards and cattle farmers were provided with hay. Mr Mhiko said through capacitating the livestock division, Arda envisages a boom in the supply chain of food and livestock feed as well.

“The strategy is to place Arda as the leading player in the field of agricultural production across the entire crop and livestock production value chain. This therefore means Arda becomes a national vehicle for food, feed and fibre security.”

Arda board chairman Mr Irvine Craig last year tasked the parastatal’s leadership to find new ways on how to revive business in the institution. As part of its farmers outreach programme to boost the national herd, Arda has assisted cattle producers in Matabeleland North and South who faced challenges of shortage of pasture and water.

The parastal’s commitment to livestock production is evidenced by the public, private partnership deal at the Balu Cattle Business Centre (CBC) in Umguza district in Matabeleland North. The livestock centre is managed by the Balu Pecan and Livestock Company where there is also a concentration of irrigated fodder under a 55-hectare centre pivot.

The project, run under the Zimbabwe Livestock Growth Programme (ZLGP), seeks to create a competitive beef value chain that promotes enhanced trade, employment creation, food security and inclusive green economic growth by 2023 for 25 000 small to medium as well as commercial cattle producers. According to ZLGP, 56 000 beef cattle in Umguza district will be managed at the project.