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Precious Manomano, Herald Reporter
The Pig Industry Board is targeting production of 22 million kg of pork by next year as part of the organisation’s alignment to Vision 2030 through increasing output along the value chain components.
Currently national production stands at eight million tonnes from the registered abattoirs.
The idea is to increase production and open export markets to ensure the board becomes a big pork producer in the region.
Speaking after the media tour of board operations last week, Director Mrs Erica Takaindisa said the board was currently meeting local demand for pork and some African countries were importing breeding stock.
“We are a parastatal mandated to develop the pig industry in the country. Demand is high in the country so we are concentrating on supplying local demand. We have exported to Zambia, Mozambique breeding stock and even semen to Namibia. We have farmers who come to collect semen which we process here. We have registered abattoirs across the country for a total of 30 active abattoirs in different provinces of the country,” he said.
Mrs Takaindisa said on average 20 000 pigs per month were slaughtered through registered abattoirs. The board was now training farmers on value addition for example processing sausages and polony.
This year’s drought reduced the growth of the pig industry and the board is now training farmers to increase production.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri highlighted the importance of training personnel as part of alignment to the current development trends.
The board is responsible for ensuring that the country has genetics for pigs. It is currently operating in Harare and Bulawayo.
“We are really impressed by the operations of the PIB in the country. Their performance will promote sustainable economic growth. We want to ensure they have top genetics in terms of pigs in the country to ensure farmers have access to them. It is their mandate to see that they obtain good genetics in the country,” he said.
They also ensure training and capacitation of all farmers, through courses for farmers in pig production.
Prof Jiri said the board will avail the latest production technologies on pigs to ensure profitability for every farmer in this country. The board needed to work with development partners to ensure the country had access to alien genetics.
If farmers implement improved genetics, efficient feeding practices and proper disease control, this will result in healthier pig production.
Pig farming has created employment opportunities, particularly in the rural areas where agriculture is a primary source of production.
Online Reporter