The Sunday Mail
Standrick Chagadama
OVER 1,3 million indigenous chicks and nearly 7 000 goats have been distributed in the past three years under the Presidential Rural Poultry Scheme and Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme, respectively, to bolster small livestock production and enhance food and nutrition security in communities.
To date, more than 139 000 households have benefited from the programmes.
Beneficiaries of the poultry scheme are receiving 10 indigenous chicks that are 10 weeks old.
The goat scheme, however, is presently on hold due to the El Niño-induced drought.
It is envisaged that once the programme resumes, each of the country’s 35 000 villages would receive one buck (male goat) and 17 does (female goats) for distribution to vulnerable families.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos told The Sunday Mail that the distribution of chicks is continuing
He said the chicks are being distributed periodically.
“However, the Goat Pass-On Scheme is awaiting a new contract (for goat distributors),” he added.
“As you are aware, climate change is real; we now experience erratic summer seasons with below-minimum rainfall. This year, the situation was even worsened by the El Niño phenomenon. It is against this background that we settled for small livestock. They are climate smart, as they endure under harsh conditions compared to large animals.”
Director for livestock production and development in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Sithokozile Sibanda said: “All provinces in Zimbabwe have been covered by the Presidential Poultry and Goat Pass-On schemes. Cumulatively, we have distributed 1 390 607 chicks and 6 922 goats since inception of the programmes.
“We last distributed goats in August last year since the expiry of the contract of goat distributors but will resume soon,” said Dr Sibanda.
Beneficiaries, she said, are receiving goats for free and are expected to pass on to the next recipient when the doe gives birth.
“Mashonaland East province received most chicks (351 353), while the least numbers were distributed to Bulawayo Metropolitan province, which was 45 348 birds,” added Dr Sibanda.
“This will help in significantly reducing malnutrition in the population. The surplus chickens produced will be sold and are a source of income. Although a thorough evaluation of the impact of the project is yet to be done, the project has ensured increased access to meat and eggs by rural households, thereby improving access to animal source foods by rural households.”
Acting chief director for Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services Mr Leonard Munamati said the scheme is a game-changer for rural communities.
“Each hen is expected to produce a minimum of four clutches per year under a semi-intensive production system.
“The average production for each clutch is 10 chicks, with an annual chick production of 50 chicks per hen,” he said.
“Assuming half the number will be female chicks and minimum mortality recorded, total production will be 250 birds by one farmer in one year of a productive cycle. The male chickens will be sold at six months of age either as breeding stock to other farmers or exchanged for females or be sold as meat. Under intensive production, up to six clutches per hen can be achieved annually.”
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