Beef cattle development initiatives: a case of Matobo A2 Resettlement farms in Zimbabwe

Boat Sibanda Sibanda

Abstract


The study was carried out to examine various practices that resettled A2 farmers have adopted to enhance cattle rearing in Matobo district in Matabeleland south province in Zimbabwe. A multi-stage random sampling method was used to select 60 a smallholder farmers to which a structured questionnaire was randomly administered. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS (1999) was used for data computation. It was observed that 47% of the farmers keep local (indigenous) breeds and 67% of the participants indicated that farmers retain steers for draught purposes. There was no significant difference (P<0.05) between the numbers of cattle sold to private butcheries and the one sold to private buyers. Farmers face challenges in cattle feeding especially during winter. Informal cattle marketing systems have resulted in low prizes offered to cattle on sale. There is need for farmers to form cooperatives so that they can gain value from their cattle production business.


Keywords


Cattle; smallholder; Resettlement; A2 farms

Full Text:

HTML PDF EPUB XML

References


Barret, J. C. (1991) Valuing animal draught in agro-pastoral farming system in Zimbabwe. In: Tillage, past and future, Proceeding of a workshop held at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Hatcliffe, Harare, Zimbabwe on 14 and 15 , November 1989, CIMMYT FSR Networkshop Report 22

Bratton, M. (1994) Land Distribution, 1980 – 1990 In: Zimbabwe Agricultural revolution, Ed. Mandivamba, R and Eicher, C, University of Zimbabwe Publications, Harare, Zimbabwe

Cheater, A. (1984) Idioms of accumulation: rural development and class formation among freeholders in Zimbabwe, Mambo Press, Gweru , Zimbabwe

Chimonyo, M., Kusina, N.T., Hamudikuwanda, H. and Nyoni, O., 1999. A survey on land use and usage of cattle for draught in a smallholder farming area of Zimbabwe. Journal of Applied Science 2:111-121

Creswell, J.W. (1994) Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage

Khombe, C.T. and Ndlovu, L.R. (2008). The Livestock sector after the Fast Track Land Reforms in Zimbabwe. ISBN:987-0-7974-3698-5, Print Force Production, Harare

Report (2011) Department of Livestock and Veterinary: Analysis of Livestock Production: Cattle distribution by sector, Raylton, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Report (2012) Department of Livestock and Veterinary: Analysis of Livestock Production: Cattle distribution by sector, Raylton, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Sibanda, R (2005) Key issues and trends in the Livestock Sector – A case study for Zimbabwe. Desktop study submitted to ICRISAT and ILRI, P.O Box 776, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Sibanda, R. (2008) “Market access policy options for FMD-challenged Zimbabwe: a rethinkâ€. Trans-boundary animal disease and market access: future options for beef the industry in southern Africa, Working paper 6, Brighton:STEPS centre, Institute of Development Studies

Scoones, I.; Maraongwe, N.; Mavedzenge, J.M.; Murimbarimba, F. and Sukume, C (2010) Zimbabwe’s Land Reform: Myths and Realities, Weaver Press, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Steinfield, H. (1988) Livestock development in mixed farming systems, Doppler, W(ed). Farming systems and Resources Economics in the Tropics, 3

Ward , A. and Mathebula, N. (2008) Land Reform and Development: Evaluating South Africa’s Restitution and Redistribution Programme , Post Graduate School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Preotria 0002, South Africa

World Bank, (2006) Agriculture Growth and Land Reform in Zimbabwe: Assessment and Recovery Options, Report No. 31699-ZW.World Bank

World Food Programme Report (WFP /FAO), (2002) Food Security mission Assessment, Economic and Social Development Department

Tawonezvi, H (2003) Agriculture Research Policy in Zimbabwe Agricultural Revolution, Eds. Mandivamba, R and C.K. Eicher , University of Zimbabwe Publications, Harare, Zimbabwe


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c)