Abstract :
Abstract – This paper seeks to review current forage
production strategies, constraints to and opportunities for
small-scale livestock production in Zimbabwe.
Crops and livestock form an integral component in providing
food for the human population in rural areas of Zimbabwe.
This has necessitated re-orientation in developing technical
packages that integrate the two production systems. Food crops
are produced for subsistence, livestock are raised to provide
mainly draught power for crop cultivation, and other
secondary outputs such as milk, meat, hides and manure.
Existing forage production practices in the small scale
farming areas of Zimbabwe depends on availability of
resources such as land, capital, inputs and labour. Most
farmers in these farming areas give priority to crop production
and not much land is left fallow for forage production. Feed
resources available for livestock are maize, groundnuts,
soyabeans and cowpea stover. Forages produced for livestock
are include napier grass, legume siratro and other indigenous
species.
Production of the forages also depends on management
practices, that is, crop establishment, nutrient supply, weed and
pest control, seed production, forage conservation and
utilization. A major point for the cultivation of forages lies in
their potential to provide improved quantity and quality feed to
livestock and legumes improving soil fertility.
Most research work on forage production has been
conducted at research stations and of late efforts are being
made to conduct them on-farm. Results from have been made
to gather dust in office drawers instead of reaching the
intended users. There is low adoption of forage production
technology in the small scale farming sector as evidenced by
poor management practices and low forage yields. A deeper
understanding of the farming systems in these areas, farmers’
perceptions of forages and constraints limiting improved forage
production is key to all research work. This entails identifying
the clients of research, systems of disseminating research
results to the appropriate beneficiaries and how research
results are utilized. Strategies on utilization of research results
involve institutional support, farmer training, farmer-tofarmer
extension, farmer field schools, farmer participation in
research work, identifying gender roles, costs involved and
appropriateness of technologies under which the small scale
farmers operate.
Achieving agricultural sustainability in forage production for
livestock is also a function of the social, economic and agroecological
environment in which farmers are exposed to.
Growth in forage production is inevitable and can reduce food
insecurity through availability of livestock feed and soil fertility
improvement while increasing farm incomes, employment and
general farmer livelihood.
The forage production strategies are also supported by the
five Is for success and they include innovation (research and
extension systems), infrastructure (road and transport
systems), inputs (farm inputs, credit, irrigation water),
institutions (markets and support services) and incentives
(policies and trade).
