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Elton Manguwo
AS part of efforts to climate-proof the livestock sub-sector, the Government through the Presidential Fodder Banks Programme is targeting to capacitate 300 000 rural smallholder cattle farmers with inputs to produce fodder across the country.
In a statement, director for livestock development, Mr Alban Mhindurwa said that the targeted 300 000 farmers would be supported with forage pasture input packages that will be distributed through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots across the country.
The benefiting households will be given five kilogrammes velvet bean, 2,5kg lablab beans, 2,5kg of sun hemp and 20kg of basal fertiliser to produce a rich and diverse feed that addresses the various aspects of cattle nutritional needs.
“The programme is part of the Presidential Livestock Input Support Scheme, which is a set of timely interventions by the Government to alleviate the scourge of hunger induced cattle deaths to maintain a healthy national herd, as the country aims to grow the national head count to 6 million cattle by 2025,” said Mr Alban Mhindurwa.
Under the programme a standard input package comprising climate smart pasture and feed options will be distributed to farmers to promote on farm feed formulations. But despite being alternative feed sources, the fodder packs offer other benefits such as improved fertility and improved carcass quality and carcass weight.
To complement the Presidential fodder bank programme, the Presidential forage legume scheme will provide cattle with the much needed crude protein source during the dry period when the quality of grazing grass is relatively poor.
Mr Mhindurwa added: “The programme is very helpful to small holder farmers in natural regions three, four and five where erratic rainfall is common year after year.”
In addition, the Government is implementing the hay cutting and bailing programme that involves harvesting hay in areas that have high herbage yields and transporting it to areas that have little to no grazing land.
The production of feed is expected to reduce the cost of commercial feed and will improve cattle production and profitability leading to farmers realising the full value of their livestock.
Recently the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development 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.
Livestock is at the heart of the rural population as a source of income, draft power and milk therefore it is imperative to protect the cattle production sector from poverty deaths.
Online Reporter