LIVESTOCK INTERVENTIONS IN CHIRUNDU

 By HAPPY MULOLANI

LUSITU is a rural outpost located 35kilometres west of Chirundu district of Southern province. It is known to be in the valley where the area experiences high temperatures, as it is positioned in Region I of the Zambia Agro-Ecological Zone.

By virtue of its location in the valley, access to reliable water sources for livestock farmers has been one of the detrimental factors in their livestock value chain.

Chairperson of Manzoomwa Farming As A Business School (FaaBS), Alick Malunga confirmed that farmers in the area lacked access to reliable water sources as they drew water from the seasonal Lusitu stream, which easily dried up, they also did not have adequate land to rear their goats neither did they have modern goat housing structures.

Mr Malunga, who is also a livestock farmer, owns 35 goats. He attests to unreliable access to water supply due to dryness of the area and lack of improved goats.

“We were also rearing local goat breeds which have low market value,” Mr Malunga disclosed.

These challenges contributed to the low pricing of goats on the market, which did not yield a return on their efforts. This provided an opportunity for the Enhanced Smallholder Agribusiness Promotion Programme (E-SAPP) to empower the smallholder farmers in organised groups, using the programme’s approach – Farming As A Business Schools. This approach enabled smallholder farmers to undergo livestock training and better methods of rearing goats for a season. Through four FaaBS, a total 417 smallholder farmers were trained in the livestock value chain. After which they were assessed and qualified for financing under the programme’s Matching Grant facility (MGF) of a total K1,400,000.

Of the approved funds, K615,000 was released towards the group’s first milestone coupled with their contribution, which went towards one solar panel, a borehole, two goat housing units, dip tank and the construction of a manager’s house. While the group will work towards the construction of a classroom and marketing slab once the additional funds are released for the remainder of the milestones they envision to undertake.

Mr Malunga disclosed that the support rendered to the farmers has enabled the four FaaBS put up a goat breeding centre with a production capacity of 200 goats for the two goat housing units already erected.

He says it is pacifying that the group through FaaBS, learnt about the importance of accessing improved goat breeds and management, thereby resulting in improved quality of goats and higher market value.

“Previously, a local goat was being sold at K150 but with improved breeds, the market price will increase to about K400, which is currently the range of prevailing market price and is a good return on farmers’ efforts,” Mr Malunga said.

He is glad that the water challenge has been resolved. This means the breeding centre can integrate with other activities such as gardening which require constant supply of water.

“At first, two dry boreholes were sunk, until a third borehole where we have found water at a depth of 90metres,” Mr Malunga sighed with relief.

It is encouraging that the initiative to come up with a goat breeding centre has stimulated interest among the traditional leadership, who immediately offered some tracts of land to set-up the breeding centre.

“Three Village Headmen offered land for the goat breeding centre. Village Headman Mungomba, Village Headman Siamwanjwa and Senior Headman Kwelele, who is the Chief’s representative collectively offered 54 hectares to set-up the goat breeding centre,” Mr Malunga revealed.

He explained that they offered the land through a letter of endorsement, which facilitated legalising of the land and also submission of plans for the proposed structure.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional leadership, Village Headman Mungomba expressed happiness that for a long time, farmers in the area lacked the basic facilities to boost their goat production capacities which affected their households’ food security and incomes.

Headman Mungomba reiterated that farmers need to take advantage of the breeding centre as they work towards expanding the facility in view of the ever increasing demand for goats.

E-SAPP Livestock Specialist, Lemmy Munsanje pointed out that the 54hectares of land allocated to the farmers by the traditional leadership was a good gesture as it was aimed at empowering the local farmers.

However, consideration should be made to increase more land to the breeding centre, as once its fully functional, the land may get smaller. Suffice to state that increasing land for such a productive venture will positively impact on the livelihoods in the area.

Senior Livestock Production Officer for Lusaka province, Bwalya Tembo pointed out that farmers needed to take into account the climatic changes and avoid the indiscriminate cutting of trees, as this can affect their environment.

Ms Tembo said it was necessary for farmers to engage in tree planting wherever trees had been cut to avert any effects such as deforestation.   

Whereas, E-SAPP Nutrition Specialist, Nalukui Sakala encouraged farmers to practise gardening within the confines of the breeding centre in order to uplift their nutrition status.

“She also called for active participation of women and youth in the livestock value chain as this will increase their nutrition status and incomes,” Ms Sakala said.

In essence, the programme’s FaaBS approach has worked progressively in resolving some smallholder farmers’ bottlenecks in Lusitu such as access to water, improved breeds and their management. Eventually, this improves their quality of goats which will enable them bargain for a higher price and an organised market. 

A major lesson learnt is that farmers need to be equipped with the right skills and support. Once this is done, the process of ownership and sustainability are guaranteed, only then will food security and incomes be enhanced.