Title of article :
The Production (Reproduction, Mortality and Herd Size) of Beef Cattle in ‘Fast Track’ A1 and A2 Resettlements Schemes in Bubi, Gwanda, Umguza and Matobo Districts of Zimbabwe
Author/Authors :
Sibanda، Boat نويسنده Lupane State University, Bulawayo , , Khombe، Carroll Themba نويسنده Institute for Rural Technologies, 49 Josiah Tongogara, Bulawayo , , Sisito، Givious نويسنده Matopos Research Station ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2014
Abstract :
This paper explores the production (number of
calves per herd per year, number of animals that die per
herd per year and average herd size) of beef cattle in
villagised A1 and individualised A2 model of the “Fast Track
Land Reform Programme” in the Matabeleland region of
Zimbabwe. The resettlement model was premised on
increasing herd productivity through increasing the
availability of grazing land and water with the assumption
that the resettled farmers would abandon subsistence
agriculture in favour of market driven production. The
follow up assumption was that improvement in beef cattle
production would significantly increase household incomes
for the farmers and contribute to poverty alleviation.
Determining the productivity of beef cattle from A1 and A2
schemes was frustrated by poor record keeping. This study
focused on three indicators that the farmers could easily
quantify and verify, namely: number of calves per herd per
year, number of deaths per herd and herd size. Quantitative
and qualitative surveys were used to collect information from
sampled farmers and key informants. A total of 196 records
were collected (47 from Bubi, 39 from Gwanda, 50 from
Umguza and 60 from Matobo Districts). Eighty six (86)
records were collected from A1 settlements (37 from Bubi, 5
from Gwanda, 15 from Umguza and 29 from Matobo
Districts) 110 records were collected from A2 settlements (10
from Bubi, 34 from Gwanda, 35 from Umguza and 31 from
Matobo Districts).The data was analysed using SPSS. A
Fixed Effects Regression Model (FRM) and the Maximum
Likelihood Estimation (MLE) procedures were applied. The
study revealed that average herd size was 29.8±13.7, numbers
of births per year were 16.6±9.6 calves/herd and numbers of
deaths were 4.7±1.1 animals per herd during the one year
period of reporting. The findings compare very well with the
national averages of 46% (compared to 56%) and 16%
(compared to 16%) for birth and death rates respectively in
the communal sector and fall far lower than the then large
scale commercial sector (LSCS) rates which had mean
calving averages of 79% and mortality rates (rangeland) of
3%. It was suggested that the increased production of A2
farmers over A1 farmers was a function of scale due to
increased grazing land rather than improved efficiencies of
production. A study of success factors showed that tenure
security, type of resettlement scheme, livestock husbandry,
breed composition, and education had a larger coefficient of
determination value (R2 = 66.17%) hence a significant effect
on cattle production in resettlement areas. The implication
of these findings is that beef production in Fast-Track
resettlement areas has not reached the pre Fast Track levels
of large scale commercial farms but close to the levels of
communal farms. However, this study shows that there is
scope for improvement. The resettled farmers have not made
significant investments in securing inputs and technology to
enhance their productivity. Improving the competitiveness of
the beef sector in Zimbabwe’s resettlement areas will require
farmers to raise their management levels, improve input
supply, provide adequate water and enhance use of superior
genetics to achieve greater productivity.
Journal title :
International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research
Journal title :
International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research