NEW: Livestock inputs distribution underway

Rudo Mandiro

The distribution of livestock feed inputs to Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme is on course, with thousands of smallholder farmers benefiting from the free program.

Government is on a drive to resuscitate the livestock sub-sector through a number of interventions to improve conception rates, calving rates, carcass weight, meat production, and milk productivity.

This has improved the per capita farm income in the smallholder sector.

Director in the Department of Livestock Production and Development, Mr Alban Mhindurwa, told The Sunday Mail that livestock nutrition is one of the factors that is limiting the growth of the sub-sector.

Livestock nutrition tends to be severely affected during the dry season.

However, livestock production has been boosted by the three major schemes from free Presidential livestock inputs.

One of the schemes sees the creation of forage banks

“On the creation of forage, over 500 000 householders are set to benefit from forage legume inputs distribution this season, with each household receiving forage legume seed and fertiliser inputs for two pfumvudza plots,” said Mr Mhindurwa.

“Deliveries are ongoing in various GMB depots with Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Midlands, and Masvingo having received some inputs for distribution.’’

He urged smallholder livestock farmers to visit their nearest Agritex Extension officers in their respective wards for more information in order to access these free inputs from the nearest GMB Depots in their ward.

“The Agritex officers also encourage farmers to carry with them their stock card in order to access these inputs. Without a stock card no inputs,” he said.

Ministry of Lands Agriculture, Fisheries and Water and Rural Development, permanent secretary, Dr John Basera, has said 120-150 million litres of dairy per year to an annual national requirement is expected to increase output in both small and medium dairy farmers.

LIST OF LIVESTOCK INPUTS:

Each household will receive the following inputs:

Silage Production:

1. Maize seed (High rainfall regions): 1 x 25kg bag

2. Sorghum seed (Low rainfall regions): 1 x 10kg bag

3. Compound D fertiliser: 5 x 50kg bags

4. Top Dressing fertiliser: 5 x 50kg bags

5. Glyphosate herbicide: 1 x 5 litres

Forage legume production:

1. Forage legume seed (Only one of the three varieties for 0.1248 hectares)

2. Tick grease: 2kg to control tick-borne disease

3. Velvet beans: 5kg packet