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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

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