The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
THE Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) is anticipating more farmers to venture into fodder crops production to guard against loss of livestock due to insufficient pastures in the wake of droughts.
Three Non-Governmental Organisations namely Help from Germany, Food and Agriculture Organisation and Lead partnered in the rehabilitation and installation of 17 solar powered boreholes as well as setting up fodder seed banks under a “making a living from livestock” programme in Nkayi district early this year.
DLPD Matabeleland North provincial livestock specialist Mr Admore Chikowa said it was important for communal farmers to venture into cropping of fodder crops to guard against poverty deaths in the event of drought and depleting pastures.
“The purpose of a seed bank is to enable farmers to acquire seedlings and plant them on their own plots at a larger scale and grow the fodder crop under rain fed condition to feed their livestock while at the same time harvesting the seed for continuous production.
“The issue of pastures is always a challenge in communal areas. The number of livestock continues to grow for instance there are over 100 000 cattle in Nkayi and people are being resettled into grazing land and this means pastures are now limited and the issue of climate change militates the situation,” said Mr Chikowa.
DLPD Nkayi district officer Mrs Tsepo Mpofu said a number of farmers in her area of jurisdiction started cropping fodder crops four years ago and the seed banks would play a big part in increasing the production of the kernels.
“Some farmers in the district started cropping fodder crops in 2013 but we expect the seed banks to enhance seed multiplication and we have more farmers venturing into fodder production. Through the solar powered boreholes we have seen a significant change of the cattle’s condition because water plays a pivotal role in the growth of animals,” said Mrs Mpofu.
One of the farmers from Nesikwe Village, Mr Leonard Ndlovu said the seed bank would go a long way towards ensuring supplementary stock feed to farmers since the district was prone to droughts. Nesikwe fodder crop seed bank has a membership of 43 farmers.
“Over the years we have been losing cattle due to lack of adequate pastures and water during drought periods thus this (seed bank) project will go a long way in alleviating against the death of our livestock,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Forage and fodder crops include bana grass, forage sorghum, pennisetum, millet, lablab, cowpeas, soybeans, grain sorghum and maize. Choice depends on sowing time and feed quantity and quality requirements. Other factors such as soil type, drainage, weeds and disease may also need to be considered. The agronomy and management used can have a greater influence on the crop productivity than the variety chosen.
@DNsingo
