NEW: Piggery station for Chegutu 

12 Oct, 2021 - 12:10 0 Views
NEW: Piggery station for Chegutu 

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter

The European Union (EU) has bankrolled the establishment of a US$18 000 piggery artificial insemination (AI) station in Chegutu under the Value Chain Alliance for Livestock Upgrading and Empowerment (Value) project.

The AI station will facilitate easy and localised access to top quality pig genetics by small and medium pig producers, thereby boosting production in Mashonaland West Province.

The official launch will be held at Braford Farm in Chegutu on October 21.

The station is one of two established by the project in the Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West pig production corridors.

In an interview, project team leader Mr Newton Chari of ActionAid Zimbabwe said:

“In April 2020, ActionAid Zimbabwe, together with its implementing partners – Braford Farming, Zvikomborero Farms, Michview Enterprises, COSV and Mercy Corps – imported 244 pig-breeding stock from South Africa.

“The breeding stock is housed at two breeder farms, including Braford Farm and the Pig Industry Board (PIB), for multiplication.

“To date, over 3 400 semen doses tapped from five grandparent boars have been purchased by smallholder farmers from the first production cycle, and the establishment of additional AI stations will broaden the supply chain.”

Said PIB director Mr Andrew Shoniwa:

“The establishment of the AI station in the Mashonaland West production corridor is a game-changer which will enhance access to superior genetics by small- and medium-scale producers.’’

Braford Farm managing director Mr George Mudanga encouraged farmers to adopt the use of AI as it has a number of advantages over natural service.

“For instance, the cost of using AI is much lower as compared to maintaining a boar, especially for small enterprises. Secondly, AI is more effective in terms of production as compared to natural service.”

The Value project is part of an EU-funded Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP), a response to tackle challenges in the country’s livestock sector through financial support from the EU amounting to €40 million.

To date, the project has capacitated over 1 000 registered pork producers and covers the country’s 10 provinces.

 

Share This:

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds