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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
SMALL-SCALE livestock farmers in Beitbridge district have applauded the Government and its partners for rolling out an artificial insemination programme that has helped most of them to restock following years of successive droughts.
Between 2019 and 2021, the district lost close to 5 000 cattle due to drought. Government in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is rolling out a programme to boost the quality of livestock in the area.
This is being done under the PROGRESS consortium that is spearheaded by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
A total of 1 200 cows were administered with high quality Tuli, Boran and Brahman breeds between 2019 and 2021 and gave birth to 800 calves.
In June this year another 500 cows received the shots and the conceiving rate is still at monitoring stage.
The programme is enhancing resilience through introducing bloodlines from beef breeds that are hard in terms of diseases and nutritional needs.
“Being a beneficiary of the recently completed phase, artificial insemination has greatly improved my breed. I now have a pure Tuli breed among my herd,” said Mr Oscar Singo of Langeni area in Ward 5.
He said the programme has positive results because it has less error.
Miss Eunice Mudau of Ward 15 in the Mapayi area applauded the Second Republic for rolling out people-oriented programmes that help empower people from the grassroots level.
She said the artificial insemination programme is crucial in that it produces good breeds with less costs.
Another livestock farmer, Mr Oscar Chiromo of Lutumba area, Ward 5 said the programme is good in controlling diseases and the probabilities of the cattle conceiving after the shots are very high.
“This is a very good programme that our Government is rolling especially here in communal areas,” he said.
Mr Chiromo said most farmers could not afford to buy quality bulls whose prices are US$5 000 and above.
“Buying the artificial insemination shots is cheaper and there are no costs of taking care of a bull,” he said.
Ms Patience Moyo of Masera, Ward 8 said the programme has given women farmers an opportunity to improve the quality of their herd.
An average shot of the Boran, Tuli, Nkoni and Brahman is administered for between US$5 and US$30.
Miss Praise Matizirofa, from the Mzingwane area in Ward 6 said small scale livestock farmers have welcomed the programme which is improving the quality of their herd.
Online Reporter