East Livestock sector set for transformation

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is implementing an ambitious initiative designed to transform the livestock sector in Zambia.  The initiative is part of CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program under grand challenges and scaling flagships area of work.  By targeting the production and strategic preservation of high-quality forage stock feed, the program aims to cushion livestock against the devastating effects of climate-induced shocks, with a target of serving at least 100,000 head of livestock across the country by 2030.

Explaining the vision behind the initiative, ILRI Research Associate Thembinkosi Baleni highlighted that climate change continues to pose severe risks to rural livelihoods, particularly through recurrent droughts that deplete natural pastures and water sources. He noted that the program targets to develop ten (10) livestock forages cooperatives, of which two (2) have so far been formulated and have been equipped with sustainable livestock management practices.

According to Mr Baleni, growing forages will improve resilience of farmers by protecting their livestock (economic assets) from climate change shocks such as drought, while allowing for diversification of farmers’ incomes through fattening, feed production hubs and forage seed/ grain seed trading. This will in turn provide crucial economic stability by allowing households maintain steady streams of income.

To achieve maximum reach and long-term sustainability, the project adopted a peer-to-peer “lead farmer” extension model, where it is currently developing twenty (20) farmer forage production and livestock feeding field schools across ten (10) districts in Eastern province. Under this structure, select agricultural producers receive comprehensive training in forage production, crop-residue mixing, and feed storage, which they are then expected to step down to “follower farmers” in their respective communities.

Crucial to the implementation of this model in the region is the active partnership between the project and local government departments.

Maybin Banda, a Livestock Technician based in Chipata, with the Department of Livestock Development under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, explained how the collaborative framework operates.

“This project is basically collaborating with us as government, and as a department, in a way that we provide human resource, while the project provides key resources such as fuel and allowances to enable our officers to move about during sensitizations,” he explained.

He detailed that Heads of Departments like himself are first trained on pasture and forage production. Afterwards, they train camp staff who are extension officers working directly in the camps, on how to harvest forage, bale feed, and properly feed livestock. These camp staff then go into the field to identify farmers and continuously teach them.

Mr Banda noted that the initiative directly addresses a critical seasonal challenge faced by local farmers, who traditionally rely on natural grazing pastures. As land for grazing is increasingly cut off for crop production and climatic challenges, pasture resources become severely depleted during the hot season, causing animals to lose weight.

“In our district, vendors look at the body condition score when setting prices,” Banda said. “If animals are not fed well during the hot season, their market value drops drastically. Our camp staff go into the fields to sensitize farmers not to burn crop residues after harvesting maize. Instead of burning stover or leaving groundnut haulms in the field, we teach farmers to collect and bale them as supplementary feed for when resources go down, he elaborated”

In addition to crop residue management, the project distributes forage seeds including velvet beans, pigeon peas, and Rhodes grass for farmers to plant, harvest, and bale.

This story was originally published in Times of Zambia. Read full story.