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Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]

LIVESTOCK farmers in Umguza district in Matabeleland North have been urged to diligently implement Government initiated farming projects to enhance food security from the household level and consider farming as a business venture.

Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (ARDAS), Umguza district Ward 16 supervisor Mr Sipho Ndlovu told 20 livestock farmers who graduated on Friday at Umguza Ward 16 at Stanhope that it was critical for them to take farming as a business venture and adhere to business tenants for success.

The farmers graduated after undergoing a four-week Stockman Academy course, which sought to capacitate them with information that will promote growth in the beef value chain.

The Stockman Academy course was conducted by Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP) Beef Enterprise Strengthening and Transformation (BEST) project in partnership with Nurture Education Trust.

Nurture Education Trust is a private company that worked under ZAGP-BEST project as the associate partner responsible for providing the training owing to their experience and expertise in providing Stockman courses over the years.

ZAGP is a response to the challenges in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector through 40 million in support from the European Union.
The training sessions were facilitated by ARDAS (formerly Agritex) and Department of Veterinary Services extension officers and the training included both theoretical and practical demonstrations.

On completion of the Stockman course, each lead farmer received the Stockman Academy certificates and Stockman Academy manual.
The lead farmers who received this training are expected to pass it on to other farmers.

Said Mr Ndlovu: “I challenge those who have graduated today to grab all development programmes which are being brought by Government and other stakeholders.
“Let’s use them for the benefit of the community as we move in line with President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of not leaving no one and no place behind.

“Also, let’s plan according to climate change and plan ahead. We also need to prepare for our animals, proper breeding and have fodder for our animals,” said Mr Ndlovu.

Zanu-PF Ward 16 Councillor, Mr Orbet Mangwana said such programmes are meant to boost communities. He pledged to provide support by maintaining boreholes in the ward to provide water for farmers.

“This area does not have enough water and all the available boreholes are not functioning properly, so in partnership with DDF we want to maintain about five boreholes because all these projects need water,” he said.

“This project brings development in the community and through this training, no one will steal from us and now we are able to produce fodder for our livestock and we will be producing supper beef from the district.”

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Jibi Josia Dlamini said through training they are able to produce their own supplementary livestock feed.
He said they were now fully aware that goats can be kept for business and be a source of income.

“From here we promise to share the knowledge acquired with other farmers so that we can promote livestock growth in our community,” said Mr Dlamini.

The project target was to train a total of 1 000 lead farmers who will then mentor and train others.

In the Matabeleland North cluster, from a target of 200 lead farmers, a total of 206 lead farmers in Lupane and Umguza districts completed the five-module training offered by Stockman Academy.