LIVESTOCK FOCUS

THE PIG MANUAL AND RELATED INFORMATION

2018-02-02T00:05:00.000-08:00

Click here to download the Pig Manual. PDF

COMMON DISEASES OF SHEEP AND GOATS

2017-05-22T03:21:00.001-07:00

Click to download: Common Diseases in Sheep and Goats.pdf

Click here to download: Sheep and Goat Flock Health.pdf

Click here to download: Goat Health Handbook.pdf

Click here to download: Major Zoonotic Diseases of Sheep and Meat Goats.pdf

CATTLE DISEASES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

2017-05-22T01:27:00.000-07:00

Click here to download: Diseases and Parasites of Beef Cattle.pdf

Click here to download: Traditional Remedies Used in Treatment of Cattle Wounds.pdf

Click here to download: The Most Important Genital Diseases in Cattle.pdf

Click here to download: African-Local-Knowledge-Report.pdf

Click here to download:Common Cattle Diseases.pdf

Click here to download: Alternative remedies used by resource - limited farmers to manage ophthalmia in cattle, from Ntabazinduna communal area, Umguza district, Matabeleland North Province , Zimbabwe.pdf

NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

2017-04-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

Click here to follow: Six foreign countries line with command livestock funding

Click here to follow: Animal cruelty to attract $200 fine

Click here to follow: Proposals-for command livestock submitted

Click here to follow: CSC board must work on resuming beef exports urgently

Click to follow: New law to compel Zimbabwe banks to accept cows as collateral

Click here to follow: Cabinet okays livestock for medical aid

Click to follow: Expedite command livestock scheme for Mat'land farmers

Click to follow: Bull fetches world record price of £1.23million

Click here to follow: Matabeleland beef production politics

Click here to follow: Lumpy skin disease and three day stiff sickness outbreaks in South Africa

INDIGENOUS CHICKEN PRODUCTION MANUAL

2017-04-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

Indigenous Chicken

Click here to download: Village Chicken Production Handbook. pdf

Click here to download: Improved Practices in Rearing Indigenous Chickens. pdf

Click here to download: Parasite Management for Natural and Organic Poultry: Coccidiosis

Click to download: Growing Your Range Poultry Business: An Entrepreneur's Toolbox. pdf

Click here to download: Indigenous Chicken Housing. pdf

REGULATIONS IN AND AROUND THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

2017-04-16T04:50:00.001-07:00

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE CONTROL STRATEGIES AND GUIDELINES

2017-04-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

Blister on a cow's gum

Click here to download: THE GLOBAL FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE CONTROL STRATEGY DOCUMENT (pdf)

Click here to download: THE GUIDELINES FOR PROGRESSIVE CONTROL PATHWAY FOR FMD CONTROL (PCP-FMD) (pdf)

Click here to download: THE FOOT AND MOUTH TECHNICAL BULLETIN (pdf)

Click here to follow news on:CREATING REGIONAL TRADE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH IMPROVED ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION: OPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Blanching between a cow's hoof

LIVESTOCK AND MEAT ADVISORY COUNCIL (LMAC) RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND NEWS UPDATES

2017-04-15T02:56:00.000-07:00

The aim of the Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) is to protect, promote and further the interests of those persons engaged in the livestock and meat industry in Zimbabwe and ensure the economic viability of the sector. LMAC’s scope of work involves identifying key constraints affecting the growth of the industry, deliberation and discussion on a wide range of issues of concern to the industry as well as passing recommendations on a regular basis to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development on industry concerns and covering meat, dairy, hides, feeds and feedstuff and import and export applications.

Click here to follow: LIVESTOCK AND MEAT ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWS UPDATES

Click here to download: LIVESTOCK AND MEAT ADVISORY COUNCIL RECENT PUBLICATIONS

TIME TO REGULATE ALL FORMS OF TRAINING

2017-04-13T09:23:00.001-07:00

The proliferation of trainers and training workshops in agriculture and livestock in particular is a real cause for concern. Every week a growing number of advertisements are posted on social and mainstream media signalling that there is money in it. Unfortunately, money is said to be the root of all evil. Unsuspecting farmers are being swindled of their hard earned money by unscrupulous trainers whose qualifications and experience are not verified by anyone.

The pursuit for knowledge is very high as a result of the agrarian revolution that ushered in a new breed of farmers who, unfortunately, lack the necessary skills to embark on serious farming. Threats by government to take back unproductive land are not being taken lightly by farmers hence the need for a quick turnaround. For a while now, the so called “cell phone” farmers have enjoyed both of the two worlds, a holiday home at the unproductive farm and a secure job and home in the city.

Another reason is that slowly but surely city life is becoming unbearable as a result of the economic hardships. A majority of these people are looking at the available options, to which farming is one of them. The massive appeal is that there is some quick fix and easy way to becoming a great farmer without going through the natural process of work and growth that makes it possible. These are the followers of the “get rich quick schemes” promising “wealth without work”. What comes quickly to my mind is the infamous “sack” potato and “chiuta” schemes that promised instant gratification. Some people invested heavily and lost everything.

A good number of farmers are realising that they have no clue on the subject of agriculture hence this stampede to attain some form of knowledge and produce something on the land before government threats are actualised. Unfortunately not every one of them will get the right type of knowledge; the majority will be met along the way by hell’s angels who will feed on them before they can run away.

The government has a huge roll to play in this. For example the South African government has regulated all forms of training. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) decided that all training programs falling within the generic educational practices domain become Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) responsibility. For example the agriculture sector is called AGRI-SETA. Various SETAs train, assess and register their own assessors, facilitators and moderators etc. This move stimulated but regulated the training market.

Poultry training workshop at Elangeni Training Centre

Firstly, training modules are pitched right so that they are palatable to the trainees. Secondly, the trainer must be qualified and registered to deliver the right information to a particular level of trainees. Thirdly, there is recourse for the trainee in case they are not satisfied with the conduct of the facilitator and the content of the training.

Under current circumstances here in Zimbabwe, I implore farmers’ unions, Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) and other interested parties to come to farmers’ rescue by arranging short courses with recognised agricultural institutions like Esigodini, Mlezu, Chibero and Gwebi. These institutions have excellent training facilities. Agriculture is a practical course hence it cannot be taught through social media and workshops conducted in hotels.

While still sorting out the regulatory framework, government can encourage its agricultural institutions to take up the training of farmers. In order to reduce time at school for adult learners, theory can be conducted through online, hard or soft copies of modules, while practical work is done at the institution.

This article was written by: Muhle M. Masuku

Email: muhle.masuku@gmail.com

Mobile: 0712 938 659

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT / TRAINING MANUAL

2017-04-12T01:55:00.002-07:00

Farmer Training Session in Progress in Nkayi

Click here to download: BEEF CATTLE MANAGEMENT-pdf

Click here to download: BEEF CATTLE MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING MANUAL-pdf

Click to follow: 95% of South Africa's beef comes from feedlots- find out what happens...

RABBIT PRODUCTION INFORMATION

2017-04-10T01:43:00.000-07:00

Click here to download: RABBIT PRODUCTION MANUAL-pdf

Click here to watch this video: RABBIT REARING A GOLD MINE

Click here to download: RABBIT PRODUCTION BUSINESS PLAN-pdf

GOAT AND SHEEP PRODUCTION MANUAL AND RELATED INFORMATION

2017-04-10T01:37:00.000-07:00

Click here to read: Interest in Kalahari goats should be harnessed

Click here to download: GOAT PRODUCTION HANDBOOK-pdf

Click here to download: Managing Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats. pdf

Click here to download: AN ILLUSTRATED GOAT AND SHEEP PRODUCTION MANUAL-pdf

Click here to download: SHEEP-AND-GOAT-PRODUCTION-HANDBOOK-pdf

Click to download: GOAT FARMING AS A BUSINESS- A FARMERS MANUAL -pdf

Click here to watch video on: IZIBAYA ZEMBUZI

LINK REVOLVING FUND TO A BUSINESS MODEL

2012-11-10T08:48:00.003-08:00

I have witnessed the amnesia that grips our government during recurrent droughts in the region. The cure is painfully slow. Take for example the current scenario where the government reacted just a few weeks before the onset of the rains. This comes at the backdrop of countless efforts to arouse their attention to the deathly situation obtaining in Matabeleland South.

“Farmers are losing so many cattle to droughts”, became a theme that could easily top the hit-parade. Undoubtedly, we have made so much noise that has seen rock solid conscience begin to thaw. Speaking at the 2013 National Budget Stakeholder consultative meeting in Bulawayo last week, Finance Minister Tendayi Biti said, “US $10 million has been availed to deal with the livestock situation in Matabeleland.

I have read and reread the drought mitigation implementation strategy the government is adopting and I constantly ask myself whether this will benefit the poor majority or the few resource rich farmers in the communal areas? I am not suggesting handouts, we are way past that stage and even Chief Sikhobokho of Nkayi reiterated that in our last encounter. I hope a well thought out intervention is on the cards.

Those poor farmers who cannot buy stock feed will not be selling their livestock anytime soon because their animals are in poor condition, unless they give away (Balahle izifuyo zabo). In the event that the rains are good enough to plough, poor farmers will not dare because of lack of draught power. The government must come up with a model that will allow poor farmers to access stock feed early, sell their animals in good shape and ensure survival of the entire herd.

Instead of randomly selling stock feed, government could urge communal farmers to form feeding groups (communal feedlots) that can be given stock feed on credit and linked to profitable markets. These markets would collect amounts owing on behalf of government. Abattoirs collected pig levy on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture till recently. Farmers can sell well finished animals and make enough money to buy survival feed for the remaining herd. Currently, farmers are selling mere bones and getting very little to make a decent living.

That brings me to the issue of the revolving fund management. Surely government should give a flexible body to run the fund; I would suggest a private organisation (bank) based locally or at worst the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA). The bureaucracy and rigidity of government cannot run the revolving fund and have a positive impact.

Mr Shadreck Zhou SNV Local Capacity Builder (LCB) inspects stock feed delivered at Smithblock Feedlot

I would like to urge farmers to form local associations that can make them attractive to work with other organised groups, extension workers and companies. A disorganised group of farmers is a target for middlemen who use the same old predatory tactics of isolating and then pouncing.

I will reiterate what I said last week, “mind your own business” and “each man for himself,” are selfish philosophies that cannot work in a communal setup. Farmers should get together to capitalise on economies of scale.

Selling stock feed randomly without a capacity building plan will amount to naught. Supplementary feeding is a new phenomenon to our farming communities and the revolving fund must be pregnant with poverty alleviation; capacity building and market linkage plans lest farmers will themselves be revolving in perpetual poverty.

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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

2012-11-10T08:46:00.002-08:00

Finally, government is distributing stock feed to drought stricken areas of Matabeleland South. The Department of Livestock Production and Development in Matabeleland South is coordinating deliveries while Veterinary Services is selling and receipting all the stock feed purchases in almost all the districts in the province.

Speaking at the Matabeleland South Drought Mitigation Committee meeting in Gwanda during the week, the chairperson, Mrs Simangaphi Ngwabi said the committee consulted widely in each district before arriving on these distribution points, Beitbridge: Topolo, Luthumba, Chituripasi, Chasvingo, and Zezani. Gwanda:Manama, Hwali, Ntalale, Buvuma and ZRP Mlambapheli. Mangwe: Madabe, Brunapeg, Mayobodo and Marula. Bulilima: Moza, Madlambuzi, Ndolwane, Somnene and Dombodema. Matobo: Homestead, Matopo Research station, Nathisa and Kezi.

Clearly the government is sending a signal that farmers are in business therefore they must meet the cost of production. There is very little money to spare; hence government has created a revolving fund that is inexhaustible if farmers hold their end of the stick.

Mrs Ngwabi said the cost of the survival feed is $11.00 per bag. All delivery points will receive 30 tonnes. Some feed has already arrived in these areas and particularly in Hwali, the feed was reportedly finished by the time she made these announcements on Thursday last week. She pointed out that there was strong community participation in meeting the cost of those offloading the stock feed and providing security services.

Dr Mbuso Moyo and Muhle Masuku appreciate stock feed delivered in Mangwe District

Some people said it is a drop in the ocean, well, half a loaf is better than none. I am not sure how I would have described this government if we had received the first rains without any form of help. It is not secrete that I have said this kind of help should have come much earlier, but better late than never.

My primary concern is the consistency of deliveries. Animals will be collected from cattle posts (emilageni) far away from homes for feeding, only for the feed to arrive one, two or even three weeks later. The farmer would lose his money and cattle at the same time.

That point is closely followed by that of the distance to watering points. What kills most animals is the energy sapping distances to and from watering points. That destroys the essence of feeding livestock.

Stock feed must not be sold to farmers without some form of guidance on how they can do it. This supplementary feeding must be controlled lest it has no impact at all. You cannot expect any positive results from feeding hundred animals on one bag. This is likened to a husband who sends the wife to collect ARVs because he is too shy to do it. When the wife returns he asks her to split the pill into two. The couple eventually dies: relatives and friends heap the blame on non functional ARVs.

Cattle in some areas are far past saleability because they are severely emaciated, and the problem is how farmers can raise enough money to buy stock feed. This scheme does not address the issue of poor farmers but rather it condemns them to perennial poverty.

I am reliably informed that some rich and famous confidence trick star in Beitbridge bought a big chunk of the consignment through poor farmers who could not afford the feed. He will start selling the feed at a higher price once the government feed runs out. No law can prevent such people from doing what he did, but I think we should give each other chances to buy unless one is Lucifer’s disciple. Phela yikuloya lokho

The revolving fund must not disappear by the onset of the first rains. Droughts are part of us now; therefore we cannot afford to be reactive. Let us start planning for many years ahead. That means we must think about permanent arrangements and not to cry every drought year.

Let us not be confined to what the government can do but to what we can do without the aid of government. Ukumelela uhulumende kuyasibulala. My late friend had an unusual way of dealing with a maths problem at school. “Untaught,” he would justify his failure. Let us not justify our lack of initiative by pointing at the government because its body language suggests that it is dancing to a different and weird tune.

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LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE LOCAL FEEDLOT SCHEME

2012-11-10T08:44:00.003-08:00

Mangwe Farmer's Association's Smithblock Feedlot

Many people from different parts of the country came to witness the Mangwe Farmers Association (MFA) local feedlot scheme launch at Hobodo village last week. Speaker after speaker showered praises on the Mangwe Farmers Association and its partners for coming up with a scheme that will serve thousands of cattle in the drought stricken Mangwe district.

Most associations are in the newspapers for the wrong reasons such as leadership wrangles and embezzlement of funds, instead Mangwe Farmers Association leadership has that rare gene of honesty and transparency. MFA has inculcated the spirit of oneness and a desire to succeed even in the face of the devastating drought. Spine chilling accounts of threats to the success of the scheme given by feedlot committee chairpersons from Smithblock, Sanzukwi and Hobodo clearly demonstrate an unparalleled resilience.

‘Mind your own business,’ and ‘each man for himself’ are flowed concepts that have sunk our communities to deep poverty. I know that such talk caresses our latent greed and sense of self. But it causes hatred and disgust to fellow humans that were designed by God to make a living together through our multiplicity of talents and skills. The concept of company is premised on the understanding that people ought to invest, share the risks and spoils together. Economic texts document the disadvantages of a sole trader yet people still persist in going solo.

The scheme shows that it is indeed possible to link farmers with agribusinesses such as Bulawayo Abattoirs and stock feed supplier, Agrifoods without crying out to government. Communal areas are reportedly holding on to about eighty percent of the cattle in the country, unfortunately the cattle are either very poor or lack good finishing to fetch better grades and farmers are disorganised to attract rewarding relationships. Unless there is a link between the market and the source of raw material through a reliable conduit (farmers’ association), the mismatch between demand and supply will persist.

Government extension workers are faced with insurmountable challenges such as lack of transport during the execution of their duties in the wards. This scheme provides a platform for extension workers and farmers to meet discuss and train production and marketing skills. Most importantly the scheme has farming as a business training component that serves as a work up call to farmers that should you snooze you lose. It also thrives on peer influences and discussions well after the training sessions.

The scheme demonstrates through Bulawayo Abattoirs, Agrifoods and MFA that it is possible to provide an enabling environment for each other in the value chain without compromising profit margins. Here is the fairest part of the deal: let us all make money.

Dr Ronny Sibanda, Senior Livestock Advisor at SNV, the brains behind the local feedlot model, reiterated the need for breed improvement programs within the scheme to improve feed conversion and better carcass quality. Certainly, the feed would be very costly due to poor live weight gains. Feeding pens can be used to isolate females from the prowling and extremely efficient local bulls (iminjanja) and then introduce cheaper ways such as artificial insemination.

Central and local government should provide a conducive environment for agribusinesses and farmers to work together. Punitive levies, cumbersome police clearances, veterinary and grading fees must not be a deterrent to smooth transactions at the livestock markets. Some archaic laws aught to be revised, eradicated or new ones put in place.

This scheme is certainly a good attempt to mitigate the effects of drought and also offer farmers the opportunity to improve the quality of their animals before slaughter. However, there are acres of opportunity to improve this scheme. This is an opportunity for professionals to take up the challenge and produce life changing models rather than hibernate at institutions of higher learning. The writing is on the wall for all to see, that where there is a will there is definitely a way.

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Your report, “All Roads lead to Hobodo" was classic and very interesting. I and other people can’t wait to see the post-mortem (sic) i.e. a review/comment on the launch and the subsequent developments on the feedlots. I am part of the farming community in the area.

Regards

Ernest Mpabanga

ALL ROADS LEAD TO HOBODO

2012-11-10T08:43:00.004-08:00

Mangwe Farmers' Association's Hobodo Feedlot

"Yes we can." Indeed they can, that is why this Wednesday, 17^th October, 2012 Mangwe Farmers Association will officially launch its local feedlot scheme at Hobodo. To most people that expression has since become rhetoric, but I have lived to see a community that meant what they said they could do. When everything around them was dying, they stood up in total defiance of the much chronicled drought in Matabeleland South. Mangwe Famers Association (MFA) under the wise leadership of Mr Adam Dube refused to succumb to the excruciating pain of losing the few remaining assets in their possession. They sought partnerships with other organisations in order to find lasting solutions to the perennial drought.

The only way they overcame the fatalistic attitude was to accept responsibility and believe in the law of cause and effect rather than luck. It took action, preparation, and planning rather than waiting, wondering or wishing to accomplish what they intend to showcase this Wednesday. A Mangwe Farmers’ Association partner, SNV came up with the local feedlot model, a market based solution to the problem of the increasingly uncompetitive livestock market situation in Matabeleland South province.

Sell your animals and buy stock feed has been the slogan lately but, buyers indicate lack of good slaughter condition of animals, low livestock volumes for sale, lack of collaboration among farmers to access critical and competitive inputs and output markets and, farmers identify poor business relationships between farmers and agribusinesses resulting in poor prices being offered for their livestock.

Apparently, almost every abattoir has its own feedlot because there is a critical shortage of good quality slaughter stock. The problem with that system is that buyers buy cattle for a song from farmers citing poor condition, feed them at a feedlot, slaughter them and sell at a handsome profit. The farmer is being killed by that system.

The SNV local feedlot model enables the farmer to feed his cattle at a communal feedlot, learn how to feed and manage a feedlot, sell his cattle in a much better condition, deduct the cost of feed and veterinary medicines and the rest is profit. Just like the abattoirs make their money. Bulawayo Abattoirs has partnered Mangwe Farmers Association in the construction and running of feedlots at three different sites namely: Smithblock, Sanzukwi and Hobodo. Bulawayo Abattoirs provide feed to MFA feedlots at cost and then recover their money when the animals are finally slaughtered. Cattle are being inducted weekly and the community is ecstatic as a result of the newly found hope.

The scheme provides for the maintenance of the homestead herd. A farmer may pledge his animal in order to get survival feed equal to the value of the pledged animal to feed cattle at home. Meanwhile the pledged animal is fed in the feedlot till it is in a good condition to be slaughtered. A farmer may pledge more animals in order to feed more cattle at home. Females are now in a better condition to conceive and give the farmer hope of a better tomorrow.

Bulawayo Abattoirs has taken a giant step in cementing a symbiotic relationship with the Mangwe community. A relationship is like a bank account, you ought to deposit in order to withdraw. I will not be found accusing Bulawayo Abattoirs of reaping where they have sown. Instead I would like to encourage some egocentric agribusiness owners to take a cue from this relationship. Abanye bafuna ukuvuna bengahlanyelanga

Farmers and agribusinesses should seize such opportunities to work together. Some people chose to be rigid largely because of those short term gains. I have said before, that is limited vision. People are looking for short cuts, hence in every organisation or society there are free loaders. These are people who want to get a benefit without paying for it.

The foundation of success regardless of your chosen field is attitude. When your attitude is right, you will realise that you are walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under your feet. People don’t recognise opportunity, they complain when opportunity knocks.

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WATER IS INDEED LIFE

2012-10-03T02:07:00.002-07:00

Farmers watch helplessly as animals succumb to the devastating drought in Matabeleland South. Each one of them awaits the inevitable message that another one has died. Slowly but surely their only meaningful assets diminish. On the other hand life’s daily requirements are not relenting as bills accumulate. Our lifetime is impinged by sorrow and misery, certainly a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

This is the time farmers are calling for miracles to happen: each day they silently pray for the unlikely September rain. Rainmaking ceremonies are happening everywhere but there is no rain, at least not yet.

Water is indeed the systemic solution to many problems bedevilling Matebeleland region. This is confirmed by our hundred years into the hunt for Zambezi river water. But quite honestly, this has been an elusive dream for many people who have lived before us. I too pray that one day this project becomes a reality.

Before that, we need to live a good life because God does not give us a second chance on earth. That calls for short term conquests. God says in life’s manual that there is a solution to every problem; He does not present you with a problem greater than your ability to solve it. He has given us the necessary tools for every job. Let us use the God given brains to solve our water problem.

Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, may his soul rest in eternal peace, left us very wise words which we have not taken seriously. The word lima (farming) can be reversed to say mali (money). The greatest threat to making money through farming in Matebeleland is water. Yes, we all talk about it but surely we are not putting enough thought, energy and money as individuals and collectively as local government in order to turn around the situation.

Two weeks ago in my article, ‘Community leaders on land degradation’, I mentioned the plight of Madamawuke community in Nkayi District and their efforts to scoop silt that has seriously reduced the water carrying capacity of Madamawuke Dam. They have since raised enough money to buy diesel to augment any external efforts. Heir apparent to Madliwa chieftainship, Siphumuzi Khumalo brought the plight of this community to the fore and the Department of Farm Mechanisation has since reaffirmed its commitment to help the community before the beginning of the rainy season. Let us see Nkayi RDC offer help as well. Umntwana ongakhaliyo ufela embelekweni.

Communal land is jointly owned and managed by those who occupy it. You certainly cannot go it alone. It follows that communal farmers must come together all the time to confront problems. Minding your own business is like proclaiming a death sentence to the whole community.

Last week I was part of a team that went water hunting in the Chief Hobodo area in Mangwe District. Again a local group comprised of Mangwe Farmers Association (MFA) members invited the team that eventually brought so much relief to the bewildered farmers. The team carried out water quantity tests on the seemingly dry riverbed. I went on to discover that along rivers are large pools of water that are covered deep in sand. At one such place the team placed a sand abstraction unit that has since pumped over ten thousand litres of water without showing any signs of depleting the source. This is only one of the three sites that were found to have plenty water within a three kilometre stretch this far during a drought year. The community provided human resource that significantly reduced installation costs of the sand abstraction unit.

There is very little planning on the part of central and local government in so far as human settlements is concerned in rural areas. So much financial and human resources are being directed to non-priority areas. We need to turn to the constitution of Zimbabwe that gives us a chance to redeem ourselves from bad leadership very five years. Our future lies within us.

Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have since become an industry that takes care of itself rather than the poverty they purport to serve. Real life changing methodologies are there but not supported. It no longer amazes me why NGOs are keen on relief rather than development work because relief work keeps them in business, while development work takes them out very fast.

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· Goodday, could you please email a quotation for 5 pregnant sows, nearing birth and one mature boar. Due to start a piggery project soon. vincenndlovu@gmail.com

· I read your column and would like to be assisted as a young farmer. I do beef steers and would like to know how I could sell my steers at the ZITF. R. Maphosa

Technical staff from Bulawayo Abattoirs explain to Dr Ronny Sibanda (SNV) about a sand abstraction unit to be installed for the purposes of supplying water to Hobodo feedlot.

Bulawayo Abattoirs, Mangwe Farmers Association and SNV on an inspection mission of possible feedlot sites. The issue of water was of paramount importance.

GO BACK TO THE LAND OR DIE POOR

2012-10-03T01:47:00.000-07:00

As more whites migrated into Southern Rhodesia at the end of the first World War, the Bulawayo Chronicle of November 15, 1918 reported the following under the heading ‘Our future farmers, the fittest will always survive’: We want to do all possible for the returned soldiers, and if they get settled on land we must do all we can to help and advise them. Young soldiers had left offices and banks. They do not want indoor life again.

In order to create space for the new farmers, indigenous people were forcibly evicted and placed on unproductive land. Later, the Hut Tax Ordinance of 1894 was introduced to push as many males to leave their homes to seek employment in towns, farms and mines. For each hut, or wife, a male adult was charged ten shillings. Yiyo indlela esabuyangayo enkomponi madoda.

The land reform offered us the opportunity to return to the land of our fore-fathers. However, during a visit to farming areas recently, I found the notion that the land has been taken by people who don’t really need it to be true. From one farm to the other, it was the same story: the owner is either employed or looking for a job in Bulawayo, Harare or South Africa. History tells us that those young white soldiers who occupied the same land had quit employment and had opted for outdoor life. Their success was inevitable.

I write and speak to many people about farming, but now I constantly ask myself whether people have the right attitude to receive my weekly rumbling. The fundamental question we must ask ourselves is that; are the people (seedbed) ready to receive the message (seed) at this moment? We often broadcast seed onto an unprepared seedbed; the clods and weeds chock the young plant during germination.

The human seedbed is the attitude. Attitude is learned and not inert. Therefore it is wrong to say a certain type of people have an inherently bad attitude toward something. Someone has robbed them of the most important ingredient for success. In this case we have underestimated the effects of colonialism on us all. We simply have the wrong attitude to farming hence the proliferation of cell phone farmers.

Let us face it, how many people are struggling to stay in towns? Every year they are bailed out by selling the few animals left, to pay off rentals, electricity and water bills. The threat of eviction, water and electricity cuts is always looming. The question remains, why stay in town if you have to deplete your asset base to stay there? The answer is always the same: it is fashionable.

Another lot is selling livestock in order to buy liabilities such as cars, clothes and excessively priced education to keep up appearances. Our tendency is to invest in liabilities. A real capitalist defines liability as something that takes money out of your pocket. True luxuries are the reward for investing in and developing a real asset that generates income. Never trade your children’s inheritance for a luxury that soon fizzles out and is heard no more.

Young and energetic people can do better when they are schooled about the glorious life they can get out of the land. They are opting to sell fruits on street pavements, do running battles with city police, queue for jobs and lose any form of dignity in the process. Soon they give up, shrivel and die. They lack the vision and the audacity of the young white soldiers who came to a foreign land to pursue their dream.

People are discouraged to go all out farming because someone said it is not easy. The easy way is often the tougher way out. What is not easy in my view is the cut throat competition at the flea markets, emergency taxi routes and grocery shops. You need to decapitate someone’s child to succeed. Kumele ubengumthakathi ukuze uphumelele.

There are no more bright lights, no clean water, no jobs, no peace, hey, what is the attraction in these towns anymore? Let us pack our bags and go back to the land. Asibuyeleni emanxuweni siyedinga impilo eqotho, hatshi umbolekwa wenkomponi.

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· Masuku, help us out. In BeitBridge, the local leadership especially councillors are the biggest “Judas Iscariots” of communal farmers. Basebenzela ‘izikofu.’ Mudau

· Batshele Masuku, ungabayekeli sibili, sesiphelelwe yizifuyo. Nkomazana

Mr Luphahla, local Mangwe Farmers Association member at the Hobodo sand abstraction site

Mr Adam Dube, Chairperson of Mangwe Farmers Association explains to Bulawayo Abattoirs and SNV about stock feed storage facilities at Sanzukwi growth point.

Bulawayo Abattor technical staff carrying out water quantity tests near Hobodo communal feedlot

Cattle at Hobodo homestead survival feed scheme enjoy a late afternoon meal

Dr Ronny Sibanda (SNV) inspects a water pipe supplying Sanzukwi communal feedlot

Man at work at the Smithblock communal feedlot as Dr Ronny Sibanda extreme left watches the procedings.

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTERS RIP OFF FARMERS

2012-08-16T03:16:00.001-07:00

“Talk about daylight robbery and livestock transporters top the list,” John Dube a communal farmer from Gwanda alleged. He went on to narrate a very painful story about how a drunken driver caused extensive bruising to his animals that led to two of them being condemned. “Masuku, the owner of the vehicle did not have any insurance or the money to pay the damage.”

Indeed, most farmers carry livestock in various forms of transport, ranging from pick-up trucks to sedans drawing trailers. In most cases the animal is mercilessly gagged with rope or wire to prevent it from bolting out of the truck. Interestingly, you see these trucks zooming across the city centre, completely oblivious of the danger to people and other vehicles.

Another form of transport....unfair to both

The rope or wire and the sudden braking and take-offs certainly causes extensive bruising that leads to carcass condemnations. In most instances the farmer has no recourse because the transporter is not insured to ferry animals.

Bruises are trimmed off by Meat Inspectors. The trimming lowers the weight of the carcass and also lowers the final grade. Butcheries mourn over the frequency of maimed carcasses that cannot produce desired primal cuts. Bruised carcasses seriously lower the value of the carcass.

There are rules to be followed when transporting livestock. Over-loading or under-loading cattle lead to serious bruising. Mixing huge and little animals may lead to trampling and suffocation of the smaller ones. It is therefore important to engage an experienced or well trained transporter or else you watch all the profits being trimmed off by the Meat Inspector’s knife.

Bruising impacts negatively to the total beef available for consumption to the nation. Imagine how much of it is thrown away to the dogs as pet food. Unfortunately farmers do not benefit from pet food, skins, meat and bone meal and tallow that emanates from condemned carcasses.

Farmers’ representatives complained bitterly to abattoir representatives at a Matabeleland Agricultural Business Chamber (MABC) meeting, held at the CSC Bulawayo branch recently, about what they perceive to be greed by abattoirs in so far as trimmings and condemnations are concerned.

Eventually, both parties agreed to set up a think-tank to look at the possible ways of reviving the condemnation fund that would give the farmer some form of recourse in the event that his animals are condemned. Farmers would be warned against the use of uninsured vehicles and such vehicles may not be permitted to enter abattoir premises in the near future.

While on the subject of transport it is important to look at the vehicles that are used to carry carcasses and offal from abattoirs to butcheries. One wonders why carcasses are inspected in the first place because meat transporters carry meat on the same trucks used to carry livestock. Meat is put right on top of the cow dung. In some instances meat is carried in the boot of little sedans with the other half of the quarter protruding out.

One wonders what Environmental practitioners are doing to save us from being a sick nation. There are obviously some laws that forbid all this nonsense but some people have chosen to ignore them. Farmers must save themselves from unnecessary loss.

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· Masuku, I think Wenela system should be imposed on all resettled farmers by the government.

· Just gone through today’s article, amajodo awela abangela mbiza. Others are misusing those farms.

· Just read your article; please keep rumbling I am listening.

HALF BAKED INTERVENTIONS COSTLY

2011-12-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

PUBLISHED BY THE SUNDAY NEWS "LIVESTOCK MARKETS BY MUHLE MASUKU"

11/12/11

Can exotic breeds withstand these hash climatic conditions of Matebeleland South?

I came across a community heifer supply tender from a non governmental organisation (NGO) in one of the weekly papers last week that got me thinking. There is an overwhelming belief in Matebeleland that heifers are the panacea to the current decline in cattle populations in the region. That is oversimplification of the problem. I had nasty experiences in the past that opened my eyes to another dimension of the problem.

Heifers have been imported into communal areas in the past through various schemes and to the best of my knowledge there has been very little success. Two or three years later those heifers (now mature cows) are offloaded for a pittance through the communal auction market for basically the same reason, infertility. The most notorious of these schemes has been the heifer-oxen exchange, where very large oxen are exchanged for impotent heifers. Don’t you believe that is tantamount to stock theft?

Most cattle breeders are dishonest in that they do not explain to their potential customers that they cull heifers for various reasons such as according to Peet Pienaar of the Inhoek Bonsmaras at Carletonville, RSA: noticeable and visible signs of low fertility (patent defects); retarded genital organs; rise of chine (back bone), course hair; underdeveloped udder; tinny vulva; heavy brisket; an upward pushed tail head; wrong wedge-shape coupled with long front legs and a heavy forequarter; non functional ovaries because of uterine infections and inherent low reproduction.

The question is who are the recipients of the culled heifers? Heifers are gold in Matebeleland and communal farmers are prepared to part with the best oxen to buy these heifers. It then makes economic sense for commercial farmers to sell at exorbitant prices to communal farmers. NGOs are also helping resource poor members of the community to get heifers at these prices.

I remember at the inauguration of the Department of Livestock Production and Development in 2002, I categorically rejected as preposterous a notion that commercial farmers could sell perfect heifers to communal farmers, especially just after the agrarian reform. I personally witnessed malevolence of the highest order at the abattoirs, as commercial farmers butchered pregnant pure bred cows causing unprecedented levels of fetuses in apparent retribution and the hate speech accompanying the heinous act is unprintable.

Former commercial farmers need to be incorporated into national healing programs; they too are still very sore. Under the circumstances, the probability that we are importing congenital conditions and infectious diseases such as contagious abortion into our communal areas is very high. Our bulls then transfer the diseases from these heifers into our own cows (HIV style). Unless the Department of Veterinary Services is engaged in the screening of these heifers then our herd is set to decline at an alarming rate. Accusations and counter accusations ensue, saying Masuku’s bull is bewitched as it causes our cows to abort.

According to Gumbo (2003) latent defects are not apparent to the ordinary person and the buyer may not be aware of them, for example buying diseased cattle (i.e. suffering from anthrax, gall sickness) only to die later. Thus the Implied Warranty against latent defects applies to protect the buyer, breach which can be remedied. Under the aedilition remedies the buyer must prove that the defect is so fundamental as to render the thing unfit for the purpose it was bought for or that the thing would not have been bought if the defect was known. (REED BROTHERS V BORSH 1914 TPD 578 AT 582)

The other thing is that there should be consensus based on sound advice in a communal set up with regards bulls being brought in, due to their uncontrollable nature. Some traders are bringing in exotic breeds that can not withstand the hash communal conditions, while others are bringing in unclassified breeds that may be worse than the local breeds.

There is so much hype about the CSC cattle finance scheme, I hope the scheme will find improved local conditions lest they empower commercial farmers who will be prepared to offer rubbish at very high prices. We all make mistakes but a fool is one who makes the same mistake twice.

There are respectable institutions like Matopo Research Station, Esigodini Agricultural Institute, CSC ranches etc that can be entrusted with the heifer/bull breeding and supply scheme. Commercial farmers are business people who can shelve their conscience at the sight of money, such national priorities can not be entrusted on individuals. That is what gave birth to Parastatals.

There is no clear government strategy concerning heifer, bull breeding and supply, unless I have missed it, but again it should be public knowledge. It is a fact that communal farmers can not afford pure bred commercial prices, hence the need for government intervention. If farmers continue buying garbage, it’s money down the drain.

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LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE

2011-12-05T02:34:00.001-08:00

PUBLISHED BY THE SUNDAY NEWS

4/12/11

Matebeleland Agricultural Business Chamber (MABC) meeting

“So many resources are ploughed into stakeholder conferences in fancy hotels every year and problems are identified but there is no follow through. Farmers are getting deeper into poverty,” bemoaned John Mahlangu from Bubi District. Indeed Godonga, a winner says “I must do something” while a looser says “Something must be done.” What do these conferences say?

Another email reads “Masuku, how come you were not part of the agricultural stakeholder meeting two weeks ago? It was comprised of who is who in Agriculture.” You are quite correct to wonder why some of us who make things happen were not invited but only those who let them happen were there. (Thina oDungandaba besingekho). That is why I took up this seemingly impossible task of single handedly chronicling transgressions in the livestock industry every week, despite the consequences. That has made me extremely unpopular in the livestock circles, especially to those captains of industry, so averse to the truth.

The major problem in Zimbabwe is that people are obsessed with qualifications and positions hence people in positions are assumed to be society’s think tank. People confuse piling up facts and memorizing them at school with wisdom that is necessary to simplify them. The tragedy is that there are so many walking encyclopedias who are living failures.

These educated fellows we are entrusting with our lives are a result of a poor man’s culture, “Stay in school, study hard and get a good job” and they graduate with excellent grades but with a poor person’s financial programming and mindset. “This explains how smart bankers, doctors and accountants who earned excellent grades in school may still struggle financially all of their lives. Our staggering national debt is due to highly educated politicians and government officials making financial decisions with little or no training on the subject of money” said Robert Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. People spent years in school but learned nothing about money, the result is that people learn to work for money, but never learn to have money work for them, he said.

Ask yourself why very prominent farmers, abattoir owners and retailers are not holders of Masters and PhD degrees. How many times do you see them in conferences or talk shows if we may call them? These qualifications have created an entitlement mentality to positions, conferences, unimaginable laziness and an escape route to supposed ‘financial security’. Just look at what land redistribution did to former commercial farmers, and take another look at them now; they have completely metamorphosised and strategically fit into the status quo and are ahead of us already while we spend zillions complaining about this and that in expensive hotels. Persistence and determination alone are unstoppable; in fact the right attitude is more important than intelligence or degree.

We have put our trust in the school system and believe there lie the panacea to the problems bedeviling our farmers. As a pragmatist, I ask for example; how can farmers be emancipated when they are taxed when they earn, taxed when they spend, taxed when they save and taxed when they die? Until our farmers have the know-how and act as businessmen like our forerunners who have the competence to circumvent these government missiles, we may kiss emancipation good bye. Currently, most black farmers are simple farm workers and as labour, government is ruthless; it takes its share first and offers rhetoric to shut them up. That is the fundamental nature of capitalism that is never taught in schools.

Financial intelligence (not taught in school) is mastering how to make money work for you and not a slave of it; unless and until that is mainstreamed in our educational system we are doomed. The acronym KISS explains it, “Keep It Simple Stupid.” In capitalism, the most important sense is the sixth one, common sense; that is no longer common, comparatively cheap to acquire yet so rewarding. Simplicity in many quarters is regarded as lack of sophistication and skill. School has boxed us in and made it is difficult to think outside of it lest we may not fit the bill and be regarded as a simpleton. Common sense is gained in spite of, not necessarily as a result of, education. An abundance of common sense is called wisdom.

I am inspired by some of these white farmers who have risen from the agrarian revolution, with no education to write home about, to prominence in a very short space of time. As black Zimbabweans we can not withstand the vicissitudes of life, we quickly run away when confronted by failure in many avenues of life, a weak character indeed. Failure is the highway to success. An English proverb says, “A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.”

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MUSHROOMING PARALLEL MARKETS DUBIOUS

2011-12-02T03:03:00.001-08:00

SUNDAY NEWS LIVESTOCK MARKETS BY MUHLE M. MASUKU

27/11/11

Mhutshaphansi Sale Pens in Nkayi

"Black business people are being treated very badly by some Rural District Councils that are conniving with some former white commercial farmers to create parallel cattle auction markets in communal areas,” a fuming Busani Nsingo, Director of Nyamazana Auctioneers said. He described indigenization efforts as a shame, as fellow black officials are working against the economic emancipation of other black people.

“There is a clear racial distinction at auction markets, with former commercial farmers launching dubious parallel cattle markets evading government levies in the process.” echoed Mthokozisi Sinala a seasoned cattle buyer. These auction markets are being awarded clandestinely, without going to tender as is the procedure when awarding black auction companies, he reiterated. He sited Mangwe RDC which has awarded a former commercial farmer the right to auction cattle in the district.

In the other instance, very strong cartels are strategically opening up cattle auction sales in various towns run by town boards such as Plumtree and Gwanda in a bid to subvert RDC and government efforts to get a total of 10.5% levies from animals bought at rural sales. These auction sales are purported to serve the dwindling commercial sector, while in reality a majority of sellers are rural farmers. If a levy collection method based on the origin of the animals is not put in place very soon, then local and central governments will be loosing millions of dollars ear marked for rural development.

According to Sibanda, R (2005) a significant shift has occurred since 2000 on land use and distribution of livestock in Matebeleland region. Only 9% and 4% of cattle in Matebeleland North and South provinces respectively are now found in commercial areas. The rest (i.e. at least 82% of total cattle) are in communal areas.

I have advocated for livestock market pluralism as it fuels competition among buyers resulting in better prices in the communal areas. I have also castigated rural councils and government for charging levies without infrastructural development and maintenance. Above all else I have said levies are in essence being deducted from cattle producers, and that leaves the cash strapped peasantry in the red. However, much as I might fight and pour scorn on that piece of legislation, until it is scrapped, it is law and no one is above it.

In this instance my advocacy has been misconstrued, need for plurality has led to equally lethal underhand deals. Flouting clearly stated rules stinks or is it a case of some comrades being more equal than others. If the rural council is paid levies in full and yet does not remit 3% to government that indeed is tantamount to fraud. Commenting on condition of anonymity, a Government Livestock grader said, “There is a widespread scam where RDCs collect government levies from private sales but do not remit to their department.” Is it mere inefficiency on the part of the Department of Livestock Production and Development (LPD) or feigned stupidity by officialdom?

There is a threat of escalation of stock theft as clerical services normally performed by experienced vetting team from the department of LPD is currently excluded from the newly introduced sales. Government normally retains copies of the sales receipts that are official documents used in courts of law in case of stock theft by false pretences.

Official documentation not only aided in the government records of cattle outflows from rural areas but also provides such statistics as weights, grades and price ranges. Most rural development interventions are based on such statistics.

Cattle graders guard against the sale of immature females for direct slaughter as that seriously depletes breeding females. Cattle grading is meant to protect rural farmers from unscrupulous buyers and also alleviate asymmetry of information heavily in favour of buyers. However, the grading department has often been found with its pants down, fielding clueless officials that have inadvertently fueled the mass exodus of buyers and farmers alike. How so? The lackadaisical ( hakuna matata) approach of course.

Let us see government sink its steely teeth into the flesh of the unscrupulous lot or else it will be madirativange emagumeni (do as you like). I have heard of areas where police presence is highly despised, but surely here is a place where most people would agree with me, their presence is most welcome.

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TIME TO SELL

2011-11-24T05:12:00.001-08:00

'Time to sell' was published by the Sunday News 'Livestock Markets by Muhle M. Masuku on the 21/11/11

“Masuku it is that time of the year we stay in hotels and burn fuel to cattle sale points for nothing,” said a dejected cattle buyer. This is the time when cattle sale teams in nearly all the districts return empty handed simply because farmers are not offering their livestock for sell. It is that time again when certain sale points are not visited at all due to low yardings.

Various reasons are proffered, however chief amongst them is the focus on crop production. What with the seed and fertiliser packs on offer, a perfect distraction. It takes quite an effort and loads of luck to get a few bags of maize in our drought prone region. Yet it never dawns on us that this is much ado about nothing.

As predicted, the post Botswana cattle era jump started price machinations and one ought to be equally cunning to match the scheming. Here is the fundamental thing, everyone has a weak spot and farmers lack the necessary insight into buyer vulnerability. “Why Masuku are you waking up the sleepy, what is in there for you?” one buyer confronted me. Never mind me, I will sell-out anyway because I have been accused already of industrial espionage.

This is the time you have so many livestock buyers competing to pounce on every available animal being sold on the market. The reason behind this is not magical, but simple marketing, when demand outstrips supply the price goes up. That festive mood is infectious, causing a high degree of reckless expenditure by the consuming public.

November is traditionally bonus month in Zimbabwe, and every rational buyer wants to be found ready. There is also an influx of diaspora money to augment waning fortunes back home. Spending is higher than normal up to New Year holidays. There is a general scarcity of meat during that period owing to the mismatch between demand and supply of raw materials.

Here is the jinx; buyers are let off the hook this time every year just when farmers are supposed to go for the jagular, they simply relent. This is the time to squeeze hard till you get that top dollar. Who said God favours the better off, we are given equal opportunities, it’s just that some simply don’t take their chances.

Come January, everybody will be selling something in order to take care of school fees. We really can be short sighted. There will be so many cattle such that buyers will be highly selective. Buyers are elevated to the status of demi-God as farmers beg for any price. Tata Mkwenyana, abantwabami bangaxotshwa esikolo (just take at that price, otherwise my children will be chased away from school), the higher the desperation, the lower the price.

Our road to prosperity is heavily sign posted but we continue to step on poverty traps. Even someone reading this article still finds it difficult to break away from this culture of selling out of desperation. Some people have correctly termed it the January disease, so predictable and indeed a departure from normal. For me, that is a kill joy. It defeats the very essence of this column.

What are our extension officers telling farmers this time of the year? By the way just last week I was lamenting on the shortage of extension personnel in the department of Livestock Production and development (LPD). When and when not to sell is fundamental in so far as the emancipation of the rural resource poor farmers is concerned.

A concerted effort is needed to reduce skewed information heavily in favour of cattle buyers. There is wide cell phone coverage which can be used to transmit valuable information such as prices to farmers in previously considered very remote rural areas. This is something that needs the attention of all stakeholders right up to village level.

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PLENTY OF POSITIVES IN THE LIVESTOCK AUCTION SALES

2011-11-15T02:27:00.001-08:00

PUBLISHED BY THE SUNDAY NEWS 'LIVESTOCK MARKETS BY MUHLE M. MASUKU'

13/11/11

A barrage of negatives has been leveled at the communal cattle auction markets lately owing to government activity, inactivity and buyer arrogance. As scribes we stand accused of incessant bombardment of the cattle auction markets and rarely do we point at their insurmountable contribution to rural communities.

Kumbulani Mdimba, a respondent from Binga gave me a rude awakening when he narrated the untold suffering of the peasantry due to unavailability of organised sales in the district. “We are victims of unscrupulous buyers who offer the least prices in the region. Rural District Council organised cattle sales were stopped nearly a decade ago, and ever since we have lived at the messy of the spiteful buyers. Surely Mr. Masuku, half a loaf is better than none, we have nothing.”

A scary picture began to develop as the monstrosity of the problem in Binga dawned on me. For as long as I can remember, small stock farmers have met with the same unbecoming situation in all the districts in Matebeleland region, no markets at all. The question that comes to my mind is, how do resource poor small scale farmers cope?

Literature tells us that the majority of poor farmers in the region own at least poultry, sheep or goats. There is no market for these in rural Matebeleland save for the recent intervention in Matebeleland South province by SNV (a Non Governmental Organisation) and partners. At least the small scale farmer has a market for small stock, better late than never.

Typically African, we got a hand and now request the whole arm, I humbly implore SNV to dig deep in order to help establish more auction sale pens in the region. Livestock production is our way of life, and any other way is fiction.

Our very own “black diamonds’ (rich and famous) are now the masters of deception, capitalists to the core. There is every reason to inculcate the spirit of giving on this lot; it’s a sure way to excellence and uncontested legacy.

Our dependence on foreign assistance to do everything for us is now cancerous, surely the Department of Research and Specialist services has to complement SNV’s efforts and come up with an objective grading system for livestock in the communal areas. Lest we forget, livestock auction sales were used as a conduit to siphon African cattle through a dubious grading system, while colonialists developed a world acclaimed carcass grading system which was exclusively for their own use.

The Department of Livestock Production and Development (LPD) is grappling with staffing problems, with one extension worker in Nkayi, a district with 30 wards. This department is tasked with information dissemination and the question is how? The assumption is that they are doing their job but alas, all is in vain. Its time they honour up and let AGRITEX that abdicated that role at LPD formation in 2002, assist as they maintain presence in every ward in Matebeleland.

Mrs. Jane Mpofu said, “Small stock auction sales were the best thing to happen to us in Gwanda since Independence in 1980. These sales greatly empowered women who are responsible for small stock in a traditional set up.” The goat is termed a ‘poor man’s cow’, men shy away from them hence the role of taking care of this stock is relegated to women and children.

There are so many negatives that do not need money to remove, that we can do I presume. I am concerned when all we can do is to raise the begging bowl. Let us complement the NGOs in our midst, for the benefit of our rural communities.

LOCAL VALUE CHAIN FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS:ROOM FOR CSO INTERVENTION.A PAPER PRESENTED TO THE NGO DIRECTORS'S SUMMER SCHOOL 3rd to 6TH NOVEMBER,2011

2011-11-08T03:16:00.000-08:00

LOCAL VALUE CHAIN FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS: ROOM FOR CSO INTERVENTION.

A paper presented to the NGO Director’s summer school in Kariba from 3^rd to 6^th November, 2011

MUHLE M. MASUKU

CHRISTIAN FRIENDS TRUST.

The difficulty of adequately treating such a wide subject in a single paper of a relatively small size was anticipated. Two difficulties stood out, firstly, to ignore the heterogeneity of regions in Zimbabwe, but that was inconceivable and secondly, over generalization would steal much needed detail in any value chain. I chose to be pragmatic and dwell on the comparatively less written, spoken about, supported and vulnerable livestock value chain in Matebeleland region.

This paper is informed by the livelihoods framework, commonly referred to as the asset pentagon. It identifies five types of capital assets necessary for any entity to survive vulnerability, namely: financial, physical, natural, social and human (Carney, 1998; DFID, 1999). It is therefore necessary to recognise these as basic tenets necessary for small scale farmers to develop confidence and an emancipatory mindset, thus becoming less poor rather than comfortable in poverty.

Case study: Matebeleland Region livestock value chain

Livestock is Matebeleland region’s most important form of security against production failures. Over the years, the political and economic climate forced many farmers into wage labour. In these circumstances impoverished households were compelled to use divestment coping strategies that included the sale of production assets, abandoning traditional customary economic activities and ultimately, migration of the able bodied resulting in many women and child headed families. Production and marketing constraints have militated against reinvestment in the livestock value chain. It is just as futile to produce a commodity of high quality for which there is no profitable market as it is to attempt to market an inferior one where quality commands the most remunerative price.

Misdirected funds

The government is disbursing millions of dollars through the much publicized input scheme comprised of seed and fertiliser packs throughout the country. Non Governmental Organisations have also followed suit. This is contrary to layman’s knowledge, confirmed by research, that in the arid communal areas, cattle constitute the only farm produce whereby significant amounts of cash can be generated (Steinfield, 1988) and that more farmers in natural regions 1V and V than in 1 to 111 (the high rainfall areas) ranked livestock as a more important source for food purchases compared to other sources (Zindi and Stark, 1992). Matebeleland has had a series of recurrent droughts, and in need of drought relief every year. Do we suddenly develop amnesia every time national budgets are conceived? Or does this give credence to the case of deliberate marginalization of other regions.

Government takes too much from local markets

The RDC collects from rural cattle auctions a total of 10.5% levy being 7.5% for the RDC and 3% for central government’s Livestock Production and Development (LPD). The Veterinary Services Department charges $5.00 for livestock inspection per animal/lot and charges $5.00 per single movement permit. In a clear case of double taxation, the same departments charge $1.00 and $2.00 per animal for Meat grading and Meat inspection respectively at the abattoirs. The Zimbabwe Republic Police charge $3.00 per hour per officer (that are no less than four) to escort the RDC sales team to the sale points. The ZRP has a mandate of clearing all cattle at the sales and until recently ZRP were selling the clearance forms.

In an inexplicable development, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) targeted districts with the highest cattle populations, charging 15% tax to Beit Bridge, Gwanda and Plumtree districts. Then, government levies totaled 25.5%. ZIMRA abruptly stopped taking these levies a few months ago, thus compounding the absurdity of the circumstances. Buyers factor in total market costs to the final price, implying that all costs of sales are borne by small scale farmers. This does not happen to commercial farmers and is not enforced in other regions.

Tragedy of the commons

Another problem is the tragedy of the commons which arises when a resource can be used by everyone for example grazing land and water sources. In the absence of mechanisms to restrict use and selfish behaviour of individuals, the land will be overgrazed and water sources finished (depletion of common pool resources).

Local and central government are not ploughing back levies to the communities to maintain the common pool resources, thus threatening livestock production. There is siltation of water sources, gaping holes left by gold panners, desertification of grazing areas, poor infrastructural development and non existent capacity building initiatives. Some farmers walk up-to 30km to and from the dip tanks and sale points, a daunting task for the physically challenged.

Indiscriminate breeding affecting all species

There are several bulls, he-goats, rams and boars in almost every homestead. These have little respect for mothers, sisters and nieces culminating in severe inbreeding. Records from carcass weights indicate a significant decline across all species. Farmer education about basic breeding and a people centred campaign to cull all breeding males and introduce artificial insemination can greatly improve communal area breeds. Local mothers have very high environmental and disease resistant levels and can pass it on to their progeny.

Unscrupulous buyers do heifer and oxen exchange for direct slaughter evading the punitive RDC levies in the process, but it has since been found that most of the heifers are culled for various reasons by commercial farmers, thus importing congenital diseases such as Brucellosis.

Lack of credit

Lack of credit is widely acknowledged as a constraint on production and potential diversification in the region. There are no banks at community level and collateral is a huge problem for the resource-poor small scale farmer. There is a rural – urban dichotomy in terms of government support that misrepresents the relations between urban growth and rural development, ignoring the mutually beneficial linkages between them.

Collapse of the rule of law

Livestock crimes are at the top of the list in Matebeleland; however stock thieves are arrested today and mysteriously released tomorrow. There are known livestock thieves masquerading as innocent people in the day and turn to be hard core criminals in the night. RDCs are pouncing on stray livestock; sell them as soon as three months has lapsed as a source of revenue. RDCs and ZRP know that communities are completely oblivious of the mandatory advertisements in the urban media; hence the livestock is bought at ridiculously low prices by the officials. The farmer under whose custody the animal has been, is given only 10% for his efforts completely ignoring the costs of herding, dipping and medication incurred by the farmer.

Livestock identification

Lack of livestock identification mechanisms accentuates the above mentioned evils: stock theft and the RDCs’ capitalizing in lost and found livestock. It is also a major drawback at point of entry into abattoirs, where serious ownership wrangles have ensued culminating in fist fights. It can assist in identifying mother and father lines to curb inbreeding.

Service organisations

To support all intervention efforts, it is necessary that support services institutions are strong. The economic meltdown robbed these institutions of well trained and experienced cadres. The Departments of Livestock Production and Development (LPD) and Veterinary Services need strengthening in terms of capacity. Farmer organisations lack capacity and leadership to mobilize farmers, hence need capacity development themselves first.

For example, disturbing statistics revealed that LPD is very thin on the ground with one extension worker in Nkayi District that has 30 wards and that is the trend throughout the region.

Raw material transportation

This sector has proved to be the major cause of carcass bruising which is trimmed at meat inspection. The subsequent weight loss impacts negatively to the final grade and price of the animal. The transporter is paid cash before or upon delivery, only for the farmer to realize extensive bruising that may lead to partial or total condemnation much later. Most transporters are not insured against bruising and accidents that is why farmers’ cattle have perished without recourse.

No rights to contract

Matebeleland small scale farmers have had the full brunt of decades of political malevolence. Besides being a seemingly convenient political battle ground, unknown to many, this sector has also been coerced to finance local and central government. In Matebeleland region, Rural District Councils (local government) are solely in charge of organising cattle auction sales and any other sale is deemed to be private and illegal. This robes the farmer the right to choose a rewarding market. This auction sale is populated by middlemen and speculators who are shrouded in ‘collusive bidding.’

According to Homman, S (2005) “The efficiency of the formal market, varies across and within districts. Depending on the engagement of the RDC, formal markets are not always to the advantage of the local farmer, as reflected in low prices, low frequency, far distance, high bureaucracy, lack of transparency and bidding as an inappropriate tool.”

Justification of RDC cattle sales

The RDC Act Chapter 29:13 gives RDCs the right to collect levies from markets and they have since promulgated bye-laws to bar private sales. The RDCs have romped in the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Veterinary Services Department to ensure zero tolerance of private sales. This system places the producer far away from the consumer, allowing a host of speculation in between. The producer bemoans this piece of legislation, which denigrates him to the level of obscurity in the beef value chain.

Asymmetrical Information

Public cattle auctions are conducted on a willing buyer, willing seller basis but the two parties are significantly different, buyers know exactly what, when and where to buy whereas sellers sell whatever, whenever because of desperation. The sellers can not follow the sale proceedings conducted in English in a rural set-up, further complicated by the auctioneer’s inaudible lingo and indeed, the seller is reduced to a caricature. In such a situation, market prices will reflect not only the characteristics and intrinsic worth of the animal, but also the distribution of information.

This was echoed by Sibanda, R (2005) “subsistent level farmers could sell their cattle to the formal sales organised by auctioneers, but this marketing system has been weakened to the extent that it is inefficient. The system is characterised by broken down infrastructure and lacks useful information to farmers and sale points are as far as 30km. Frequency is far apart at four to five weeks intervals”

Small stock Sub-sector

According to Sibanda, R (2005) “Matebeleland small stock sub-sector is endowed with prolific indigenous goats and sheep breeds but, 50% of these may be lost at an early age due to inadequate animal health care. Further, this sub-sector does not have any formal market systems. Intervention is therefore necessary primarily to address early life survival and marketing of small stock products.” I can confirm that a few public auction sale pens have been established with the help of SNV in Gwanda district under the auspices of the RDC.

The chicken sub-sector

The chicken sub-sector has a potential to grow especially among peri-urban area farmers who due to small land holdings need to intensify production. This sub-sector needs the development of specialised skills and the promotion of access to formal markets.

Production of road runners which have proven to be a delicacy in cities across Zimbabwe can be an intervention point in rural areas given that each household owns a few of them. The major constraint is the small numbers available for the projected demand; however the introduction of artificial brooding facilities, protection against predators and adequate training in health care coupled with locally available feed can significantly improve productivity.

Meat processors

Animals left in good condition by the transporter can be injured at the abattoir and again the farmer has no recourse. Statutory instrument 50 of 1995 (Meat Inspection) does not provide for the identification of the causative agent of the bruising.

At carcass evaluation a 200g loss can lead to a grade reduction from super to choice grade. That is a double blow, in that the grade and weight have been reduced simultaneously. In case of total condemnation, the farmer may just carry his lugubrious face back home without a cent. The CSC had a Condemnation Insurance Fund that catered for partial or total condemnations; a farmer never went home empty handed. At the height of ESAP, in a move that seriously attenuated the producers’ position, on the 4 October 1991 in a communication to stake-holders, the CSC discontinued bruise/condemnation compensation.

Since time immemorial the Cold Storage Company had a farm gate scheme, a symbiosis, that meant CSC could take animals from all corners of Zimbabwe to its abattoirs but would get the fifth quarter from producers for its trouble. At deregulation (ESAP), the CSC lost its monopoly and ushered in private abattoirs. Private abattoirs seized the opportunity to fleece new farmers by taking the fifth quarter (liver, oxtail, intestines, stomach, channel and kidney fat, head and tongue, lungs and blood) without providing transport. Today it is standard practice.

The CSC provided other services such as Cattle finance scheme which was a way of financing breeding and fattening schemes and that too was swept away at ESAP. Private abattoirs now control livestock markets and it has since become a cut throat business without any livestock improvement programs.

CSO INTERVENTION AT LOCAL LEVEL

Regional diversity must be mainstreamed in all government planning. Each region must be supported to enhance its asset base in order to survive vulnerability. Government and all of us in development should do this and take advantage of these asset bases.
Those of us in the legal fraternity need to look at the legalities of livestock marketing that infringe on civil liberties.
CSOs must combat poverty through capacity development of resource-poor small scale farmers and the focus must be efficient production and the improvement of subsistent level trade. For example efficiency of marketing would increase income and in the long run stimulate local production. Expected impact must be measured more in terms of livelihood enhancement parameters than commercial parameters.
Resource-rich and peri-urban small scale farmers must be capacitated to commercial orientation and could be assisted to develop and create employment which could benefit the poor.
The key local level support organisations need to be capacitated. These are LPD, Veterinary Services and AGRITEX that is crop oriented but actively involved in areas that are not represented by LPD. Group extension can be a panacea to the mobility problems currently besieging the service providers.
Support community based organisations to push local advocacy, name and shame unscrupulous officials. Remember, ‘local people are the world’s leading authority on matters concerning their area’ (Huntington,1980;15)
Support breeds improvement programs through culling undesirable males and educate farmers on heat seeking methods in a herd as well as teach them how to do artificial insemination.
Assist in the formation of market access groups and train them in leadership skills to capitalize on economies of scale. Inculcate a saving mentality and thus promote a local credit scheme. Investigate the possible use of cell phones in so far as communication of vital information like current prices to market access groups.
Assist in the establishment of local farmer’s meat processing factories and the promotion of a local farmer’s brand. Thus capitalizing on the low supply of highly favoured organic meat in urban markets.
Assist in the development of a communal area livestock identification scheme. Up to date, the exact livestock populations are tantamount to guess work, but the issuance of birth and death certificates would help ameliorate the situation.
Empowerment of women and youths through capacity building in the livestock value chain.