aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID
aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID
aistand south~ern afrkca - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID
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Smallholder dairy development programme in resettled<br />
and communal areas in Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe<br />
Summary<br />
E.G. Mupunga and D.M.J. Dube<br />
Agricultural Development Authority, Dairy Development Programme<br />
P.O. Box 8439, Causeway, Harare, Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe<br />
Since independence (1980), the Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe<br />
Government has adopted a policy of encouraging<br />
farmers in the small-scale, communal and<br />
resettlement schemes to participate in the dairy<br />
sector.To thisend, in 1983 the Government set up<br />
the Peasant Sector Development Programme,<br />
now known as the Dairy Development<br />
Programme (DDP). This is responsible for the<br />
implementation of dairy development projects in<br />
the communal, resettlement and small-scale<br />
farming areas. It is now operating nine schemes<br />
spread over five provinces of Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe.<br />
The smallholder dairy sector has a<br />
me<strong>mb</strong>ership of 2000, of whom 800 me<strong>mb</strong>ers<br />
produce milk. The scarcity of the recommended<br />
genotypes (cross-breds) is slowing the rate of<br />
growth of the sector. At each scheme DDP has<br />
establisbed a demonstration unit for services<br />
(extension, AI and bull service), for milk<br />
collection and multiplication of forage seeds and<br />
planting materials of napier grasses. The farmers<br />
have largely adopted the technologies of<br />
improved cattle, fodder production and<br />
management practices. Milk production per cow<br />
per lactation is about 2400 kg in a 240-day<br />
lactation period. In the majority of the schemes<br />
the milk is sold locally, while in two schemes the<br />
milk is delivered to the Dairy Marketing Board.<br />
Farmers are encouraged to form associations<br />
which will in future manage the delivery of<br />
inputs (drugs, feeds etc) and marketing of milk.<br />
Concerted efforts are required to increase the<br />
suppliesofcrossbreds toallowthegrowthofthe<br />
sector. An economic analysis indicated that milk<br />
production is profitable in the sectoL<br />
Introduction<br />
Until 1980, large commercial farms, the former<br />
European farming sector, occupied close to 80%<br />
of the specialised and diversified farming area in<br />
the intensive farming regions of Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe. Over<br />
50%of all large-scale commercial land is located<br />
in natural regions 1 to 3, the high- to mediumpotential<br />
regions,<br />
Commercial dairy farms in Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe are<br />
wol developed and compare very favourably<br />
witii dairy farms in Europe and North America.<br />
The predominant dairy cattle breeds are the<br />
165<br />
Holstein-Friesian breeds, followed by Jersey,<br />
Ayrshire, Guernsey, Redpoll, Simmental and<br />
Red Dane. Feeding in this subsector is based on<br />
maize and its by-products for energy and soya<br />
beans and cottonseed cake for protein. The major<br />
sources of roughage are natural grass, standing<br />
(range) hay and maize silage. Where irrigation<br />
is available oats, midmar rye and lucerne<br />
(Medicago sativa) are grown. Due to escalating<br />
costs of commercial feeds, there has been a<br />
recent trend towards feeds grown on the farm.<br />
Since independence in 1980, Government<br />
policy has encouraged the small-scale sector to<br />
play a larger role in milk production. To this end,<br />
in 1983 the Government set up the Peasant<br />
Sector Development Programme within the<br />
Dairy Marketing Board (DMB), now known as<br />
the Dairy Development Programme (DDP). This<br />
Programme is now under the auspices of the<br />
Agricultural Development Authority (ADA). It is<br />
responsible for the implementation of dairy<br />
development projects in the communal,<br />
resettlement and small-scale farming areas in<br />
the country. Tb date it is operating nine schemes<br />
or projects spread over five provinces of<br />
Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe.<br />
Over the years the smallholder dairy sector<br />
in Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe has grown to a me<strong>mb</strong>ership of 2000,<br />
out of which 800 me<strong>mb</strong>ers produce and sell milk<br />
(Tables 1 and 2). The nu<strong>mb</strong>er of productive<br />
farmers has grown over the years. The project<br />
has also generated cooperation among farmers<br />
through the creation of association structures<br />
responsible for running the affairs of the<br />
me<strong>mb</strong>ers. The intention of the DDP is to<br />
eventually hand over all projects to these<br />
associations. One project has already been<br />
handed over to the farmers through the<br />
association.<br />
Characterisation of the cattle<br />
industry<br />
There were 106,000 dairy Lattle in Zi<strong>mb</strong>abwe in<br />
1980; the national herd had increased to 122,000<br />
by the 1988/89 season. The predominant breed<br />
of cattle in the smallholder sector is the small,<br />
hardy Sanga type. The strains include the<br />
Mashona, Nkone and Tuli breeds, which,<br />
although renowned for their fecundity, are poor<br />
in milk production. Milk production levels of