Livestock Production Strategies in Zimbabwe's NDS1 Plan

Introduction

In Zimbabwe, livestock production is a source of employment and income for farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain. However, the livestock production system in Zimbabwe is characterized by small-scale subsistence farming (Dube, 2020), and despite the importance of livestock to rural livelihoods, production remains low. Low productivity results from farmer behavior, availability and cost of feed, poor livestock quality, frequent disease outbreaks, and drought. To better the lives of the middle class in Zimbabwean society, the National Development Strategy 1: 2021–2025 (NDS1) was established as part of the country's Vision 2030 (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020). The NDS1 is a guiding framework developed by the Second Republic for the livestock sector from 2021 to 2025.

Given the challenges that characterize the Zimbabwean livestock sector and the complexity of the sector, one is left to wonder how the NDS1 is suited to address these challenges, to account for the various aspects peculiar to the sector in Zimbabwe, and to ultimately transform and uplift the lives of farmers in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020). In addition, the livestock sector in Zimbabwe is diverse — for example, in the types of animals kept by farmers, the scale of farming, and marketing practices. Some farmers, especially in rural areas, are involved in livestock farming for prestige rather than agro-economic purposes (Khanal, Dhital & Christian, 2021; Stone, 2016). The problem addressed in this paper is therefore: how feasible are the strategies proffered in the NDS1 to enhance livestock production in Zimbabwe?

Overview of Zimbabwe's National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1)

NDS1 is the follow-up to the Transitional Stabilization Program (TSP) — the reform guiding framework from 2018 to 2020 — and the first five-year mid-term plan to implement National Strategy 2030. Building on the successes of the TSP, this strategy will strengthen the macroeconomic stability necessary for economic recovery and growth and provide new opportunities for wealth creation, innovation, and business development. The overall goal of NDS1 is to achieve high, accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and socio-economic development as Zimbabwe moves toward becoming a middle-income society by 2030 (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020; UN Women, 2020).

On agriculture, NDS1 focuses on six transformational pillars: food security and import substitution, export growth and diversification, value creation, job creation, and improved farmers' income. Increased agricultural production and productivity — especially for smallholders — ensures food security, increased income, greater opportunities for value creation, and the development of value chains in the agricultural sector (Tome, 2021). The basis of projected economic growth in agriculture is the resolution of land tenure security and the adoption of climate-friendly agricultural strategies. NDS1 promotes access to affordable agricultural finance through various strategies, including establishing land banks, increased use of public-private partnerships (PPPs), and a review of contract farming and agricultural marketing frameworks for all crops and livestock (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020).

On livestock specifically, the NDS1 intends to prioritize animal health and production by improving farmer expertise, skills, and knowledge of livestock production and health. Measures include upscaling hay cutting, developing green pasture belts, and establishing forage banks (Gondo, 2021). NDS1 aims to encourage the use of cassava and cowpeas in on-farm feed formulation to generate survival rations, and to invest in research and development of novel, efficient feeds and feeding practices. NDS1 plans to increase dipping programs and blitz tick-grease application to prevent and control the invasion and outbreak of animal illnesses, and to provide laboratory diagnostics for animal disease research and confirmation.

Based on the Hub and Spoke Model, NDS1 establishes livestock business centers for small stocks (goats, sheep, and rabbits). Another goal is to strengthen pass-on schemes for dairy and small-stock producers and to increase livestock watering points (Gondo, 2021). NDS1 will establish a national bull center and sperm processing laboratory to strengthen animal genetic resource conservation, research and develop stress-tolerant animal breeds, and promote artificial insemination by extending the program to A1 smallholder farmers. NDS1 intends to implement financial services-led livestock development initiatives that gradually transition from government-guaranteed command programs through banks to a wholly private-sector-driven financing model. NDS1 also intends to promote climate-resistant livestock production by commercializing fish, rabbits, bees, and small stock (Gondo, 2021), and to provide trained livestock extension officers to surrounding farmers. NDS1 also aims to resurrect the Cold Storage Commission (CSC), which will benefit the national beef value chain. For disease management and market access, NDS1 proposes constructing a Livestock Information Management and Traceability System, along with training and capacity building for extension staff.

Beef and Dairy Production

The CSC's new strategy is to add five additional items to the beef value chain: ox tongue, stewed steak, corned beef, hair tails (for brushes), and fat (for soap). As a result, local cattle farmers and abattoirs are seeing a turnaround in their fortunes.

Approximately 5.5 million heads of beef cattle are currently in the national herd. The majority of cattle are raised on a modest scale in a fully communal agricultural system, with emerging partially communal/commercial and fully commercial producers accounting for 22% and 6% of the cattle population, respectively (EU, 2018).

Inbreeding is degrading quality because most of Zimbabwe's cattle herds are in rural communities rather than large-scale commercial farms as in the past. Another issue is that dishonest beef dealers buy bulls from rural farmers for unrealistically low prices and sell them to the CSC for large profits, shortchanging rural farmers in the process. The cattle sector is also dealing with the effects of climate change, which has resulted in drier weather. A further problem arises when infected Zimbabwean animals wander into Botswana and are culled (Mwareya, 2019).

The NDS1 aims to boost beef production from 49,115 metric tons in 2020 to 120,000 metric tons in 2025 (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020).

Innovative solutions — such as feeding cattle with crop remnants harvested in winter — are advised (Mwareya, 2019). Recommendations to address challenges in beef production include better farm management through extension services to prevent inbreeding, increased research to improve existing breeds, improved feed management to ensure feed availability, and streamlining of the supply chain to prevent farmers from being shortchanged.

As per the NDS1, the government seeks to increase the dairy cow herd from the current 16,000 to 30,000 by 2025, increase raw milk production from the current 70 million liters to 130 million liters by 2025, and increase raw milk intake by processing plants from the current 70 million liters to 130 million liters by 2025 (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020).

The dairy industry has a high level of local content but requires significant investment. Raw milk output falls short of national demand, at 70 million liters per year against a demand of 130 million liters per year (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020). An example of the dairy farming system in Zimbabwe is Dendairy — a leader in the dairy industry producing many dairy and non-dairy products such as UHT milk, flavored milk, ice cream, yogurt, butter, and milk juice (Havercroft, 2019). The company maintains strong ties with farmers, who are an important part of its business.

The main constraints at the farmer level are the lack of suitable dairy varieties, limited access to feed and its affordability, poor access to markets and related infrastructure, and limited access to investment funds (Republic of Zimbabwe, 2020). These challenges manifest themselves in the form of small milk volumes and lack of commercial viability.

During the period covered by NDS1, the milk supply gap is expected to be reduced and import prices lowered. According to NDS1, the plan is to boost milk production from 79,900,000 liters in 2020 to 120,000,000 liters in 2025.

To achieve the targets set out in the NDS1, it is recommended that dairy revitalization programs continue to be implemented to increase dairy inventories, funded by voluntary levies on cheese and butter imports. Milk imports should be controlled, and local milk production promoted. Existing enterprise upgrade and modernization programs should also be supported.