Livestock extension messaging needs evaluation

ONE of the frustrating experiences working with livestock farmers is their reluctance to adopt and implement practices that are promoted by extension workers, be they private sector or Government extension workers.

It is very common for the livestock farmers to pretend to adopt the promoted practices when the extension worker is around and chasing up them, but once they move away, the purported adopted practice is dropped immediately and the farmer regresses to his usual way of doing things.

This happens a lot in the non-governmental sector and private sector-led interventions. A lot of white elephant projects in communities are born this way.

A simplistic reaction would be to think that perhaps community members were pushed to adopt a practice that they do not need, sadly that is not always true.

I have seen very critical infrastructure like solar-powered water reticulation system providing drinking water for livestock and dip tanks being neglected into absolute abandon and dereliction.

Livestock farmers need water for their household use, livestock dipping and drinking. There cannot be a doubt about this. One classic example is the drought preparedness, where livestock farmers are advised to adopt a range of drought mitigation strategies such as selling some animals, buy feed and stock up for the lean season.

Most farmers ignore that extension message and the result is what we see right now. Animals dying of drought in most communal areas.

The farmers knew this time would come, they were advised about it, but still they ignored, buried their heads in the sand and the result is there for all to experience.

Trucks carrying stockfeed and hay-bales are a very common sight these days as some try to do last minute sourcing of the feed. We need to have a conversation as a farming community, interrogating reasons why livestock farmers especially the smallholder communal ones, do not adopt extension advise provided to them. Something probably needs to change in our extension messaging.

I do not know what it is but it certainly boggles the mind why a livestock farmer would receive advice on how to save his animals from the drought but ignore that and go on to lose 20 animals, when simply selling three of those could have saved the remainder! It cannot be that farmers find extension messages not important because some have lost animals to drought not once but twice or even thrice, but they still do not change. Are people so resistant to change, such that they can actually lose everything before they consider adopting ways that will save them the loss? How should the message be delivered so that it gets adopted and implemented?

Should there be punitive measures for livestock farmers who ignore extension messaging and cause livestock death or disease outbreaks? We are struggling with January disease partly because livestock farmers ignore messages to dip their animals religiously and correctly as well as avoiding illegal animal movements.

I am aware that the Government is increasing the number of extension officers on the ground, with some wards now with three officers.

Communication means have also improved tremendously over the years with the advent of cell phones and social media platforms.

Therefore, it cannot be because the message is not reaching our farmers. What is it, that is not happening correctly so that it can be corrected, and livestock farmers begin to be responsive to extension messaging? It is about time we review the extension framework and make it effective, and this should start with asking pertinent questions. Otherwise, the Government could be wasting massive resources supporting extension programmes that farmers do not respond to. I repeat my question.

Why are smallholder livestock farmers not adopting practices that extension officers, be they Government or private sector-based, are promoting?

We need this discussion if we are to provide effective farmer advice. Uyabonga umntaka MaKhumalo.

Mhlupheki Dube is a livestock specialist and farmer. He writes in his own capacity. Cell 0772851275.