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Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
INNOVATION hubs and other hands-on initiatives introduced by President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic at the country’s institutions of higher learning have become game-changers, with CUT’s Artificial Insemination (AI) project benefiting at least 1 500 farmers.
The university which has also earmarked to produce hydrogen for energy and lithium ion batteries that are key in the transformation and industrialisation of the country is rising to the occasion in helping the nation increase in national herd.
Under the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, which is home to the CUT Farm, divided in subsections of Commercial, Farm Research and Teaching and Extension Unit also houses the Cattle Breeding Project, an Agro-Industrial Park, the Dairy Unit among other units.
Through the Cattle Breeding Project aided by the AI, CUT aims at contributing significantly to restocking the national herd in line with the production of tangible goods and services as envisioned by President Mnangagwa.
Over the years, the quality of the country’s herd declined due to inbreeding while the same has led most indigenous breeds susceptible to livestock diseases.
The Second Republic has also introduced a Livestock Recovery Plan to boost national herd currently standing at 5,4 million after January Disease ravaged parts of the nation wiping off at least 500 000 cattle in the past five years.
The CUT project provides artificial insemination services through the collection, distribution and sale of quality semen doses from disease-free bulls at the farm.
Since the introduction of Artificial Insemination programme at the institution, 1 500 farmers from across the country have benefited from the initiative that they described as a “Game-Changer”.
Some of the farmers who have benefited for free from the scheme lauded President Mnangagwa for directing tertiary institutions to come up with models and ways to address challenges the nation is facing.
Mr Stanford Mandizha, a Zvimba farmer who has had the hard Mashona and Tuli breeds, targets to benefit more from the sale of the cross breeds he intends to benefit from the programme.
“I have two cows that have been inseminated and a 100 percent success rate has been achieved. I crossed the Tuli breed with the Boran. I intend to make a living out of the cows and the better the breeds, the higher the returns,” he said.
Another farmer, Mr Cosmas Mutepaire who has also benefited from the AI initiative, said while he was not yet sure of the results of the AI, he was optimistic of a better future.
“I think all the four that were artificially fertilised will produce calves. We are hopeful of getting better breeds. The programme was done for free,” he said.
CUT has also partnered with ZB Bank to promote Artificial Insemination to communal farmers in Zvimba, Makonde and other surrounding areas.
Mr Daniel Masango of Rivington Farm in Mhangura, who also benefited from the AI project organized by CUT and ZB Bank in 2021 said the exercise was impactful for communal herd.
At least 20 commercial farmers from Mhangura’s Ward 3 area benefited from the programme to boost beef and dairy herds.
At least two beasts were targeted per each farmer with beneficiaries now expressing joy at the successful returns of the programme.
CUT Germplasm laboratory manager, Ms Raviro Machabangu said the institution was capable of producing more straws than the current national herd.
“We have rolled out the programme to over 1 500 farmers across the country and we have 30 000 straws in stock. We can produce 6 million straws of semen per year,” she said.
Equipment at the laboratory was acquired by CUT from the Research Development and Commercialisation of Innovation Fund through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development as the New Dispensation continues to walk the talk.
CUT’s animal production and technology Professor James Madzimure said the university had selected four breeds for AI that were easy to sustain by local farmers.
“We have selected four-out-of-the-12 which we think the farmers are able to sustain in terms of nutrition demand, survivability and disease resistance. We are promoting the Brahman, Mashona, Tuli and the Boran,” he said.
Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) provincial director, Mrs Evelyn Ndoro said the move by CUT was dovetailing the department’s drive of improving local breeds.
She said the Government had also introduced a similar programme tailor-made for communal farmers which she challenged its uptake.
She conceded that the quality of cattle herd across the province had deteriorated due to inbreeding and other factors.
“Artificial Insemination is the best way to go as it helps to reduce diseases in livestock while at the same time improve quality,” she said.
Zimbabwe was at one moment a net-exporter of quality beef and milk to Europe. CUT’s Artificial Insemination Programme is now expected not only to improve the quality of the herd but also beef and milk produced.
Online Reporter