20 000 chicks for Marondera farmers

AT least 54 livestock farmers have benefited from the Government’s Command Livestock programme in Mashonaland East Province, an official has said.

In an interview with The Herald after disbursing 20 000 chicks to 12 Marondera District farmers yesterday, Mashonaland East provincial livestock officer Mr John Taderera urged beneficiaries of the programme to utilise their stock and deliver.

“Today we are giving 20 000 birds to 12 Marondera District farmers as the pilot project continues,” he said. “Most of these farmers had stopped chicken farming due to various reasons, which include finance and market challenges, now the Government has provided all that is needed for chicken production, including markets, so it is a major boost for them and I urge them to work hard for them to deliver.”

Mr Taderera said Government was satisfied with the progress and performance of farmers who benefited first in Mashonaland East Province.

“We are happy with the progress in all the districts, which had benefited so far and I urge all beneficiaries to follow all the instructions to realise maximum benefits of this programme,” he said.

In a separate interview after receiving 2 000 chicks under the programme, farmer Mrs Hilda Kadye commended the Government for the programme, saying the initiative was a big boost to most farmers who had been struggling with their chicken projects.

“I used to keep chickens, but I had since stopped due to financial and market challenges,” she said. “But now the Government has provided us with everything needed to keep chickens from day one to the last day and there is a ready market for us, so I appreciate markets for chickens on behalf of livestock farmers, Government had solved one of