Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE government has embarked on a national cattle restocking programme aimed at increasing household income and rebuilding the national herd. The programme will also provide food security through commercialisation of small holder farmers. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for livestock, Paddy Zhanda will officially launch the pilot project today in Matabeleland North’s Lupane District.

The pilot project is being rolled out in Nkayi and Lupane districts before it can be spread to the whole country.

Deputy Minister Zhanda said he will only give full details about the programme when he visits Lupane today and after being briefed by technocrats from the Ministry who have been in Nkayi in the last three days selling the idea to farmers.

“Yes we’re carrying out the project but I can’t talk about it now before I visit Lupane. I’m going there tomorrow so let’s talk once I get there,” said Deputy Minister Zhanda.

The programme is funded by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

In Nkayi it would cover all the 30 wards focusing on increasing household income and security through commercialisation of small-holder farmers.

As part of the project, the Ministry would rehabilitate 54 dip tanks as well as sales and fattening pens and establish fodder plots.

In Nkayi District 16 dip tanks have been attended to so far, one fattening pen has been opened while six fodder plots have been established.

The project also involves training farmers in animal husbandry and production of fodder.

The province has more than 600,000 cattle and half of these are said to be in danger of succumbing to drought.