Story by Lisa Masuku-Kurira
THE inaugural Livestock Conference kicked off in Bulawayo this Thursday, with a focus on innovative practices meant to enhance livestock production.
With the livestock sector having suffered a major blow from the El-Nino-induced drought last year, the first edition of the two-day livestock conference being hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development attracted players into livestock production, businesspeople and government officials.
Policy frameworks and strategies to grow the livestock value chain came under the spotlight.
“We are here at the livestock Indaba to look at how to transform the future of livestock. Livestock is very important in the economy of the country,” a farmer said.
“This indaba came at the right time because it is going to help us as we rebuild our kraals following the huge losses that we have faced because of the El Nino-induced drought,” another added.
The livestock sector is vital to Zimbabwe’s economy as it supports approximately 70 percent of the rural population.
Running under the theme “Transforming Livestock Futures: Strategies for Resilience and Prosperity,” the two-day conference being held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair exhibition centre seeks to enhance the growth, profitability and sustainability of the livestock sector.
