Reprieve for Matabeleland South livestock farmers
Chenai Museta
GOVERNMENT has partnered with USAID and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to avail 40 mobile chaff cutters in Matabeleland South to mitigate the impact of the El Niño induced drought on livestock.
Two other provinces – Masvingo and Midlands will also benefit from similar initiatives. The initiatives aim to enhance livestock nutrition and food security. The mobile chaff cutters will be stationed at farmer field schools across the provinces.
During the handover ceremony of the cutters, deputy director in the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Service (ARDAS) Mr Mukhunjulelwa Ndlovu expressed optimism in the success of the initiative.
“Today is an exciting day for the Ministry. Our livestock sector is facing significant challenges due to the El Niño drought but this is a step forward in enhancing nutrition for our livestock,” he remarked.
With the drought restricting access to nutritious feed, the mobile chaff cutters will enable farmers to convert locally available grasses, trees, and other biomass into feed that meets their livestock’s nutritional requirements.
“While we have access to grass and trees, we need to add value to them to ensure they are nutritious. These machines will significantly improve the nutritional status of our livestock,” he added.
The project kicked off in Matabeleland South’s Umzingwane and Insiza districts. Farmer field school venues at which they will be kept will serve as sites for farmers to share knowledge and foster innovation, ultimately improving their agricultural practices. Mr Ndlovu noted that if done correctly, the project has the potential to produce many tonnes of biomass for Matabeleland South’s 5 wards that will be receiving the equipment.
“These machines can be commercialised, thereby ensuring sustainability within the livestock sector. We want our farmers to understand that this is not merely a donation but a business opportunity. They must recognise its value and work to develop it further,” Mr Ndlovu pointed out.
Office director of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) at USAID, Ms Amber Palvin, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to supporting Zimbabwe through this initiative.
“We are pleased to provide this equipment to the people of Zimbabwe. We are collaborating with FAO and the Government of Zimbabwe and our hope is that these chaff machines will help secure the necessary nutrition for livestock throughout the country,” Ms Palvin stated.
Additionally, FAO will facilitate the drilling of boreholes to supply water to dip tanks to manage tick-borne diseases and for drinking.
BHA deputy director, Mr Ahmadou Ndiade highlighted the initiative’s significance, particularly in areas where communities heavily depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
“This is part of our response to the El Niño drought. Livestock is a vital source of income for many of the regions targeted by this project, for instance, regions 4 and 5,” he noted.
The project underscores the Zimbabwean Government’s commitment to engaging with development partners and placing them at the forefront of the nation’s socio-economic advancement. The introduction of the mobile chaff cutters provides a promising avenue for improving livestock nutrition and bolstering the livestock sector’s resilience.
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