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Filda Gwati and Ashton Mutyavaviri
WITH demand for livestock feed projected to soar in the wake of the forecast El Nino weather phenomenon that will most likely devastate pastures, farmers across the country need to intensify fodder production to curtail the subsequent shortages of quality animal feed, enhance livestock health and boost overall agricultural output.
Livestock Farmers Union chairperson Mr Sifiso Sibanda yesterday told this publication that farmers must intensify fodder production to address the shortage of quality feeds and enhance livestock health.
“We now have farmers who are into fodder production so they just need to intensify their activities,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said in Region 5, which receives little rainfall, farmers are doing the fodder production to increase their feed options in case of droughts.
“In Beitbridge, for example, fodder producing farmers are drilling boreholes to sustain their fodder projects given that the water table in most parts in high as we move towards Limpopo. Farmers are drilling as little as 10 metres to hit the water table and start drawing water,” said Mr Sibanda.
Fodder, which primarily consists of grasses, legumes, and other crops, serves as a vital source of nutrition for livestock, including cattle, goats, and sheep, he said.
Insufficient access to high-quality fodder has been a persistent challenge for Zimbabwean farmers, resulting in reduced productivity, malnutrition, and economic losses within the livestock sector.
Added Mr Sibanda: “The intensified fodder production drive is expected to have a cascading positive effect on the livestock sector, leading to improved animal health, increased milk and meat production and enhanced farmer incomes. It will also contribute to food security by reducing the country’s reliance on imported animal feeds.”
Recognising the importance of fodder in ensuring the well-being of livestock and the subsequent impact on the national economy, Government launched the on-farm forage improvement programme (OFFIP) to climate-proof the livestock sub-sector.
Under this initiative, farmers are being encouraged to adopt modern farming techniques, such as improved pasture management, conservation agriculture, and the utilisation of drought-resistant crop varieties.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Dr John Basera recently revealed that farmers were provided with velvet bean seeds and labula bean seeds for planting to sustain their livestock during periods of drought.
Extension services and training programmes are being rolled out to equip farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement these practices effectively, said Dr Basera.
“Local agricultural research institutions are playing a pivotal role in the initiative by developing and disseminating improved fodder varieties that are well-suited to Zimbabwe’s agro-ecological conditions. These varieties exhibit enhanced drought tolerance, disease resistance and high nutritional value, thereby contributing to increased livestock productivity,” he explained.
Online Reporter