The Sunday News
THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services is discussing with the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (Arda) for a possible partnership to develop some of the farms under the control of the two institutions as part of contributing to food security.
A high-powered delegation comprising ZPCS Commissioner General Paradzai Zimondi in the past few weeks toured Arda Antelope Estate and the Cold Storage Company Maphaneni Ranch in Maphisa.
He was accompanied by Agricultural Marketing Authority chief executive Mr Rockie Mutenha and Arda board chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza to witness the developments implemented by joint ventures between public and private sectors.
Mr Nyabadza, who is also the AMA business development chairma, said the tour was an eye opener.
“Commissioner General Zimondi was interested in seeing what Arda was doing and possibly explore that exercise so that he can partner us for his portfolio of land. It also gave him insights into ways of effectively utilising resources under the Prisons and Correctional Services and application of creative and innovative strategies employed to resuscitate production at Antelope will be adopted to produce food for inmates,” said Mr Nyabadza.
He could, however, not be drawn to reveal more details on the plans between Arda and the ZPCS saying discussions were under way and would be revealed in due course.
Meanwhile farmers in the Matabeleland region have said that the biggest threat to their livestock was the Foot and Mouth Disease which has confined the mobility of cattle within the region, thereby depressing prices and curtailing their main source of revenue.
The farmers said FMD was a real challenge in the region as it compromises both backward and forward business linkages.
“We need to address the immediate adverse consequences of Foot and Mouth Disease by finding an alternative system of marketing cattle that does not compromise the farmer,” said Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union past president Mr Donald Khumalo.
An official with CC Sales Mr Charles Randulls revealed during an outreach meeting held in the city that prior to the outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease, CC Sales was auctioning between 2 000 and 5 000 cattle per month at the Bulawayo sales with 60 buyers competing but suspension of sales has forced them to conduct district sales characterised by lower cattle yardings and buyers due to longer distances.
He said they were negotiating with the authorities to resume Bulawayo sales for the direct slaughter of animals.
“The major impediment is that farmers will be forced to take prices offered as they will not be allowed to take their animals back after mixing with animals from other farms. We have also embarked on video sales that help to improve liquidity in the region,” said Mr Randulls.
Alternative systems of marketing cattle are being embarked on to address the immediate adverse consequences of FMD.
Mr Nyabadza said it was important to establish a livestock fund for use in mitigating grazing, feed and water shortages as well as pests and disease outbreaks.
“The farmers agreed that short-term measures require the establishment of a fund for vaccinations while medium to long-term measures should identify alternative control models that are not dependent on fencing,” he said.
