marble nkomo
Nqobile Bhebhe, Senior Business Reporter
THE livestock sector has been challenged to move beyond primary production and embrace value addition, processing and branding in order to unlock its full economic potential and compete on both domestic and global markets.
Livestock remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods, supporting more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, while also serving as a vital source of nutrition and a key pillar of the national economic recovery and growth agenda.
Speaking at the second edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Livestock Conference in Bulawayo, Bulawayo Agricultural Society (BAS) president and ZITF Company deputy chair, Mr Promise Ncube, said the time had come for the sector to transform into a modern, innovation-driven industry.
The conference ran under the theme “Advancing Livestock Value Chains for Economic Development,” which Mr Ncube said reflects a deliberate shift towards strengthening and expanding the livestock value chain.
“It is good but not good enough. In fact, it is a failure to exploit our full potential. It is thus imperative to transition from a resource-based Livestock sector to an innovation-driven Livestock sector. We must, therefore, take the cure from Government, who, on realising this shortcoming, has banned the export of raw lithium, to promote local value addition and beneficiation,” he told delegates.
“In fact, Zimbabwe is undergoing a profound structural shift driven by an outward-looking and reform-minded approach that prioritises value addition, beneficiation, and the diversification of export products and destinations, ensuring that our natural heritage yields higher returns to satisfy the basic human needs of food, shelter, water and innovation for all citizens.”
Mr Ncube said the livestock sector must follow a similar trajectory by investing in processing and market development.
“In like manner, to remain competitive, the Livestock Sector must process, brand and trade its products and convert raw outputs into high-value goods for domestic and global markets. We must strengthen every stage of the value chain, from input supply and production to processing and retail. That way, the livestock sector can take its rightful place as a key driver of national GDP growth and food security.
“This approach also accelerates commercialisation, promoting the development of resilient livestock enterprises where farmers, at all levels, operate as business-minded producers, guided by data, improved genetics and modern management, to secure long-term economic stability.”
He, however, warned that persistent animal disease outbreaks, particularly Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), continue to threaten the sector’s progress.
“Our sub-region is battling widespread Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks that ignore borders and defy jurisdictions. From South Africa to Namibia, Botswana and right here in Zimbabwe. The situation is a stark reminder that diseases do not differentiate between communal herds and commercial operations.
“Like the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected both the rich and the poor, the learned and the not so learned alike, livestock diseases are exactly the same.
“We all collectively need to put our heads together to tackle them, lest we all perish. The ‘burden of proof’ is therefore on us. We must prove that our systems are stronger than the diseases that threaten them.”
Mr Ncube said FMD outbreaks go beyond animal health concerns and have far-reaching economic consequences.
“An FMD outbreak is never just a veterinary crisis; it is an economic crisis, a developmental crisis, and ultimately, a livelihood crisis. The consequences of an FMD outbreak — to households, to economies and the national herd — are profound. Households lose income, as livestock serve as their primary bank account. Food security is undermined, with reduced access to meat and dairy. Export markets are closed, affecting foreign currency inflows and trade competitiveness. National breeding programmes suffer, reversing years of genetic progress.
“Value chains are disrupted, from abattoirs to transport to retail.”
He said the future of the sector lies in sustainability, precision farming and adoption of modern technologies.
“The anchor of our vision for 2026 is therefore simple;: sustainability through precision. We are moving away from survivalist farming toward resilient livestock enterprises. Agriculture is no longer static; it is increasingly shaped by science, technology and global market forces. AI is the new oil.
“Feeding and genetics are no longer matters of tradition; they are matters of commercial performance.”
Despite the challenges, Mr Ncube said the sector is showing encouraging signs of recovery and growth.
“Despite the hurdles, we see positive signs of growth. Cattle numbers are improving, dairy output is rising, and public-private partnerships are strengthening.
“Perhaps most exciting is the rapid expansion of the small-stock sector, goats, sheep, and poultry. This sector is set to play a transformative role in our livestock economy, uplifting rural households and empowering women and youth.”
He called for a shift towards coordinated and forward-looking strategies across the region.
“Our challenge is to move from reactive disease control to proactive disease prevention, from traditional production methods to integrated, sustainable systems. From isolated national strategies to harmonised regional approaches, from subsistence farming models to commercialised, market-driven value chains.”
Online Reporter