Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
MORE than 600 000 livestock farmers from Matabeleland and Masvingo provinces are set to benefit from the Government’s Command Agriculture programme.
The Government has already identified the farmers and is working on various approaches to educate them on commercialisation.
Responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for livestock Cde Paddy Zhanda said the programme includes livestock farmers. “As a department, we’ve identified 600 000 families and we’ve equated the cost of beneficiaries with what other beneficiaries are getting in Mashonaland; which is almost $100. We’ave also put in a package of livestock equivalent to $100 for the 600 000 families. We will be starting the distribution of this package within the shortest possible time,” said Cde Zhanda.
Lupane West legislator Cde Martin Khumalo had asked Cde Zhanda what policy the Government was putting in place regarding development of livestock in Matabeleland, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces in terms of Command Agriculture.
Cde Zhanda said they were developing various approaches for livestock farmers particularly in Matabeleland to commercialise.
“First and foremost, what we are trying to do is to commercialise the minds of livestock farmers throughout the country so that they can realise the value of their livestock.
“The main challenge that we are facing as a country is the low-calving rates, which are below 40 percent at the moment. It means in every 10 cows only four cows are giving calves every year. That is where the biggest challenge is. As a result, it makes livestock farming very unviable,” he said.
Cde Zhanda said they were also trying to establish a formal market for sheep and goats because at the moment it is not there.
“It’s a problem when one wants to sell sheep and goats. So, we are establishing a small market and we hope that during the resuscitation of the Cold Storage Company (CSC) abattoir in Bulawayo, there is also a section for the small stock which we also hope will be operational within the next shortest period,” he said.
— @AuxiliaK