BULAWAYO - The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (Fao) in conjunction with European Union (EU) have launched a $10,7 million (€7,8 million) livestock production project for Matabeleland North province.
Last year, Fao launched another programme to save more than 500 000 units of livestock in Matabeleland South province, threatened by a severe drought.
“Under the programme, we will be training smallholder farmers on livestock production, rehabilitating dip tanks, holding pans and also installing refrigerators at animal health centres in the two districts,” Fao department of livestock officer, Elmar Sikala said on Tuesday.
The EU grant for the project is targeting all livestock smallholder farmers in Nkayi and Lupane and is aimed at enhancing food, nutrition and income security among households in the two districts.
Livestock production in Matabeleland has been on a decline largely due to persistent drought as climatic changes continue to affect the region.
The cattle herd, which is the economic mainstay of the region, continues to dwindle due to shortage of pastures and stock-feed as farmers continue to struggle to finance their operations due to the liquidity crunch persistent in the country.
Sikala said a non-governmental organisation Linkages for Economic Advancement of the Disadvantaged (Lead) will be the implementing partner for the project.
Commenting on the project, Fao coordinator for southern Africa and country representative in Zimbabwe, David Phiri, said livestock support programmes in the past have been few and short-term in nature.
“This four-year programme will build on those short-term efforts and accommodate the long livestock production cycle, thereby having greater impact on the livelihoods of these farmers,” Phiri said.