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Business Reporter
THE Matabeleland Livestock Investment Initiative says preparations for the Livestock indaba scheduled for Bulawayo next month are on course.
The business event comes at a time when the national herd has depleted due to successive bouts of drought in most parts of the country over the years.
In an interview, Matabeleland Livestock Investment Initiative chairperson Donald Khumalo said preparations for the indaba were progressing well although the initiative was yet to come up with the date for the indaba.
“We have not set a date as to when the indaba will be held as we are still in the process of contacting some of the stakeholders whom we wish should attend the event. However, preparations are already on course,” he said.
He said today they would convene a meeting where issues with regards to the preparatory issues and the date for the indaba would be discussed.
“We are going to hold a meeting on Friday (today) and that is when we will set the date,” said Khumalo.
“Matabeleland is very conducive for livestock farming and this initiative should be supported so that we can experience growth in the sector which will boost the national herd.”
The aim of the indaba is to empower farmers so that they do not over rely on Government support to boost the national herd.
According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee, Matabeleland South recorded the highest percentage of cattle deaths in the country last year with drought being blamed for about 69 percent of the 12,000 cattle deaths.
Presenting the 2014 national budget last week, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said: “The national herd has not improved significantly since the 1980s due to a number of factors which include inadequate research, erratic funding, coupled with persistent outbreaks of animal diseases.
“Government efforts to support the rebuilding of the national herd include the establishment of livestock breeding centres, strengthening research and extension services, conservation of livestock genetic resources and generation and dissemination of information.”
The on-going livestock development programme remains a priority targeting to raise the beef and dairy industry from the present 5,4 million and 27,000 to six million and 35,000 respectively 2015.
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