Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
A farmers from Kampala in Uganda, Mr Roy Ddungu has commended Zimbabwean farmers for having some of the resilient cattle breeds that can adapt to harsh climates and are known for their good fertility.
The farmer is the first international student that attended the Beef School 2025 hosted by the Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB), an organisation that oversees the registration of pedigree livestock – also known as stud animals.
Mr Ddungu said he travelled all the way to Zimbabwe to learn the “secret” that Zimbabwean farmers have to ensure they rear some of the best cattle breeds.
“I have come from East Africa and have learnt a lot. In Zimbabwe with the climatic environment you have, your animals here perform better than us who are in the East African tropical region.
“The body condition is much better but you have less rainfall. The reason l came here is to find out what the secret is and how Zimbabwean farmers are doing it better with less rainfall,” he said.
“I understand you get about 400 to 600 millilitres and your rainfall season usually stretches for four months. In Uganda we have 1 000 to 1 500 millilitres in the tropical equator side, but your animals look much better so there is something Zimbabwean farmers are doing right.”
He said the knowledge he acquired over the three-day Beef School 2025 was critical to understand how Zimbabweans were managing to keep their animals in the condition that they are in despite climate change challenges.
Mr Ddungu said going back to Uganda he will ensure he imparts the knowledge he gained to other farmers as well as get the right breed genetics that are resilient.
