The Sunday News
A LOCAL company has designed and manufactured about 200 samples of reflective collar tags meant to ensure the safety of livestock especially on the country’s highways.
Philbrook Cove Investments marketing manager Mr Tendai Manyarara said his company worked with Veterinary Distributors in the manufacture of the reflective collar tags which are meant to increase the visibility of animals to motorists especially at night.
He said the idea to design the collars was spurred by the increased number of accidents on the highways caused by stray animals and the subsequent loss of livestock leading to a depletion of the national herd.
“The reflective collar is an adjustable belt fitted around the neck that fits a beast of any size. At the moment our collars are lime green and white and are designed to reflect at night,” said Mr Manyarara.
Mr Manyarara said the company has engaged farmers in Mangwe district, Matabeleland South and that they had met the Mangwe Livestock Development Trust to familiarise the product to farmers.
He said the biggest challenge that they were facing at the moment was trying to get farmers to buy into the idea that was developed last year in November.
“In an economy like ours, people do not want additional costs and that is the biggest challenge that we have been facing. Despite its advantages, the mere fact that people have to spend money has made us hit a brickwall in trying to get the product accepted in the market,” Mr Manyarara said.
He said initially the market was not keen on the new product especially since its benefits can only be realised in the long term. Mr Manyarara said outlets preferred selling products like vaccines and feed that bring short term benefits to the farmers.
“We have always known that penetrating the market would be difficult because we faced some resistance at first but now things are better. The fact that we believe in our product and its benefits meant that we could not give up and this is an opportunity for us as a business but to farmers as well as a way of preserving their livestock,” he said.
The reflective collars are being sold for $3,25 each. In September, insurance company — Clarion Insurance launched an almost similar animal tagging initiative where villagers along the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway received 500 reflective ear tags for visibility as well as IDs for the animals with the details of the owner, location and other relevant information.
Livestock plays an integral part in the food security cluster under Zim Asset. Smallholder farmers in Matabeleland rely on livestock as a source of income.
