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Precious Manomano
EFFORTS to resuscitate the livestock sector continue to gather traction with the Government implementing several measures aimed at boosting production to satisfy national demand for both human consumption and industrial use.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s report on the country’s state of preparedness for the 2023/24 season has revealed that this year’s focus was on increasing productivity and livestock quality. The main objectives are to improve or address challenges in the key areas of animal health, animal genetics, animal nutrition and other related parameters.
“Government is targeting to procure 53 000 dairy cattle and a 32 000 milking herd to promote dairy heifers and breeding. For the beef sector, the Government is also targeting to reach a figure of 5, 7 million as well as improve nutrition, pasture and fodder production and feed formulation. About 4,8 million goats are also targeted,” the report indicated.
The Presidential Goat Scheme (PGS) will see 632 000 good goat-genetic material consisting of 35 000 bucks and 597 000 does being distributed to vulnerable groups across the country’s 35 000 villages.
The Government will also increase and promote sheep production to 750 000 as well as increase pasture production. About 19 000 commercial sow herds are targeted with the Government pushing to improve access to financial services and increase artificial insemination programmes.
The Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme (PRPS) is set to benefit three million rural households in eight rural and two metropolitan provinces. Each household will get 10 rural poultry birds and 200g vitamin stress pack while about 95 million broiler day-old chicks will also be availed to satisfy demand.
In 2020, the Government approved the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan (2021-2026), whose main thrust is to put in place solid interventions to address livestock production and productivity issues required for a good foundation for the livestock sector to assume its prominent role in transforming farmers’ livelihoods and providing the required raw materials for agriculture-led industrial development, among other things.
The livestock sector contributes significantly to the inclusive growth and development of the national economy and is positioned to take a key role in the current national inclusive transformation agenda towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has since indicated that about three million hay bales are needed in the next season while procurement of baling equipment and baling consumables was necessary together, as well as crowding in private sector participation.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe recently revealed that livestock condition had improved significantly adding that pastures were also available.
“We are urging farmers to increase dipping at intervals and to also use tick grease. We urge them to be vigilant against tick infestations,” he said.
The livestock sector is expected to contribute significantly to the inclusive growth and development of the national economy. The livestock sector is positioned to take a key role in the current national inclusive transformation agenda towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
With this in mind, the Government subsequently promulgated various blueprints to eradicate challenges frustrating the efficient performance of the livestock sector. Most observed challenges were associated with health, sanitary and feed safety issues, availability of adequate nutrition (pastures, fodder and water), genetics improvement issues, ready access to lucrative domestic, regional and international markets and inadequate financial resources.
Interventions by the Government will culminate in an increase in production and productivity, strengthened animal disease surveillance and control systems, as well as more developed and resilient livestock production systems contributing to food and nutrition security plus employment creation.
Online Reporter