Government Officially Launches the Sustainable Livestock Infrastructure Management Project(SLIMP)

Livestock & Fisheries Minister,Hon Makozo Chikote, cuts the ceremonial ribbon 

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries has been addressing various needs of smallholder livestock farmers in a bid to make the livestock sub-sector a sustainable income generating activity for rural farmers in particular and the country as a whole.

The Ministry has been making deliberate efforts to increase livestock production and productivity which have included country-wide livestock stocking and restocking exercises, disease control interventions as well as the establishment of artificial insemination sites. As expected, beneficiary groups have shown their appreciation by actively participating in these interventions.

This overwhelming response, however, has highlighted the need for the government to intensify efforts towards the improvement of livestock infrastructure to complement its other interventions.

LIFE AFTER CBPP: A STORY ABOUT HOW LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN KAZUNGULA ARE BEGINNING TO THRIVE

Kazungula Dairy Cooperative have embarked on producing sour milk and yoghurt to get more value from their livestock

The devastating effects of CBPP outbreak of 2005 are still visible in the lives of smallholder farmers in Kazungula district. The CBPP pandemic was one that not only robbed farmers of their cattle but also of a significant amount of their household income which they have had to work hard to recover.

Edwin Sikute remembers the CBPP outbreak as one which also threatened the food security of some homes.

“When you lose cattle, you lose all the amenities that come with cattle for example milk was a source of protein for our children and the growth of our children got stunted when our cattle was slaughtered,” he said.

FAO Country REP. Rallies Support for Women

Mrs Filippini handing in her credentials to Agriculture Minister, Mr Michael Katambo

The 2021 theme for International Women’s Day Theme is Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. Coincidentally for FAO Zambia, the genesis of the COVID pandemic last year, brought for the organization, its first-ever female country representative in Zambia.

Mrs. Suze Percy Filippini took office as FAO Zambia Representative in July last year; taking over from Dr. George Okechi. She is an icon of women in science with an academic background as an agricultural engineer with a Master’s degree in agroforestry among other postgraduate degrees.

Her journey with the United Nations began in 1988 when

OVER SOWING THE RANGELANDS - A SUCCESS STORY FROM KATETE

Some members of Bombwe Communal Rangeland in Katete, in 

session with their area extensions service officer

Much of Zambia’s rangeland are being depleted mainly due to human activity. For smallholder livestock farmers, this has translated into limited grazing land for their livestock and consequently diminishing nutrition levels most especially during the 7 month dry period of May to November.

In Bombwe area of Katete district, smallholder livestock farmers are actively working to establish a sustainable communal grazing system through which they believe they will improve the nutrition and consequently the value of their livestock.

PASSING-ON THE GIFT: HOW LIVESTOCK FARMERS ARE GROWING THEIR GOAT POPULATION

Ackson Muwaya -  received 2 goats through ESLIP and now has 11

As the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock continues to roll-out its livestock stocking and restocking exercise countrywide, Fisheries & Livestock Minister, Prof. Nkandu Luo has continued to take keen interest in the activity and in most cases has graced the official hand-over of various livestock to the rural beneficiary households.

In recent months, the Minster has been reminding farmers of the spirit of Ubuntu – an African philosophy which emphasizes that “I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.” The characteristics of this philosophy include sharing resources and working together to uplift each other and prosper as a collective unit.

Through this spirit of Ubuntu, the sustainability of the stocking and restocking exercise is being assured through a practice that is known as passing-on the gift or simply pass-on.