Insiza farmers trained on fodder crops preservation

THE Insiza District Agricultural Centre of Excellence (Dace) has trained farmers in the district on how to process locally available fodder.

The organisation was set up under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Services (Zakis), which is part of the EU-funded Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP) that was launched in Zimbabwe in June 2019.

The €40 million initiative seeks to boost the beef, dairy, pig, goat and poultry production, complemented by Zakis, which works closely with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement to co-ordinate market-oriented education and extension services across the five value chains.

In an interview, Insiza District agricultural extension officer Mr Augustine Mhike said the training was meant to assist Insiza farmers increase their income and ensure they have affordable livestock nutrition for the coming season.

“Some farmers grew fodder crops such velvet beans (Mukuna), banner grass and alfalfa, among others. The training basically was on fodder preservation to feed livestock during the lean dry season. Our aim was to assist farmers to have affordable livestock nutrition and at the same time increase their incomes by selling to other locals or neighbouring areas,” said Mr Mhike.

He also noted that the training was meant to complement some of the projects that were being developed at the Dace such as small-stock rearing, fisheries, poultry and goats. Zakis extension advisor Mr Ronald Veremu said fodder production was essential for farmers to supplement livestock feed especially in areas that are in the dry regions such as Insiza District.

“Such areas as soon as you get into winter there will be no grazing or browsing for the livestock. So, fodder banks will assist in providing feed for the animals, also to keep their body condition in a good state so that at least when they want to sell their animals will be acceptable,” said Mr Veremu.

He also noted that when breeding come animals supplemented with fodder crops, they would be able to conceive and produce young ones in a healthy state. Mr Veremu said the climate change was also affecting the grazing areas carrying capacity as they had reduced drastically due to consistent droughts and also increase in settlement of human beings, hence fodder production was key for increasing the carrying capacity of the lands.

ZAKIS has set up two national Agricultural Centres of Excellence (Aces) and four District Agricultural Centres of Excellence (Daces) last year, in a bid to improve livelihoods as well as strengthen the food and nutrition security of the country. Zakis has pledged to continue supporting farmers as it responds to pillar II of the National Agriculture Policy Framework (2019-2030).-herald.clz.w