A TARGET of 20 percent of arable land at irrigation schemes in Matabeleland South Province is set to be put under fodder production to ensure that farmers have access to nutritious supplementary feed for their livestock during the dry season.

Last year President Mnangagwa launched the Presidential Livestock Scheme as part of efforts to grow the livestock sub sector.

Under the scheme farmers are receiving legume seeds, fertilisers and forage sorghum among other inputs.

The scheme falls under Livestock Growth Plan, which is part of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy that is expected to turn agriculture into an US$8,2 billion industry by 2025 and contributes towards the achievement of Vision 2030.

According to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, livestock is an important source of income for two thirds of rural households and contributes significantly to inclusive growth of the agriculture sector and the economy as well as food and nutrition security.

Plans are underway to earn significant foreign currency for the country through the livestock sector.

According to the plan, beef production is expected to grow from 50 000 tonnes to 90 000 tonnes per year. The transformation of the livestock sector through the Livestock Growth Plan is premised on improved animal nutrition and development of pastures.

Distribution of inputs under the Presidential Livestock Scheme is underway as the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Settlement intensifies the creation of forage banks for improved animal nutrition in the southern drier regions of the country.

Priority is being given to the hardest hit southern drier areas with the highest cattle drought- related deaths. To mitigate against the effects of drought, Government through the Department of Livestock Production and

Development is implementing the “Creation of Forage Banks” programme, which has seen households with cattle receiving legume pasture seed packs and fertilisers.

In an interview, Matabeleland South acting provincial agricultural officer, Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu said fodder production was more prominent in small irrigation schemes and gardens. “Our thrust is to push fodder production in big irrigations across the province. Our target is to have at least 20 percent of arable land in all irrigations under fodder production so that farmers can support their animals during the dry season instead of relying on crop residue which is low in nutrients,” he said.

“We have various fodder legumes such as lab, velvet, lusen and sun hem which farmers can irrigate and bail for their use of for sale. Farmers can harvest the fodder, apply top dressing and then irrigate it in order to rejuvenate it. They can continue to harvest it season after season without having to replant.”

He said fodder production was suitable for dry areas as it required little water.

Mr Ndlovu said under the Presidential Livestock Scheme farmers were receiving legume seeds, forage sorghum and fertiliser. He said farmers were also being trained on fodder production. He said the province could prevent a lot of poverty deaths through fodder production.

Mr Ndlovu said irrigation managers that have been employed by Government with ensure that farmers mainstream fodder production.

Government has started employing managers for 450 irrigations across the country under an integrated business model to ensure that they are fully productive in order to improve food and nutrition security.

The thrust under the programme that is being led by the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (Arda), is for all irrigations to be run as business units.–@DubeMatutu