Sakunda unveils $10 million livestock funding

SAKUNDA Holdings has unveiled a $10 million funding package to kickstart Command Livestock and would also bankroll the production of up to two million chickens per month as the fuel firm continues to partner Government to ensure the success of the programme.

The firm’s director Mr Kudakwashe Tagwirei urged the private sector to join Government activities in funding agriculture, saying the sector was the basis on which economic turnaround could be achieved.

Mr Tagwirei said this last Thursday during the launch of the Command Livestock, Fisheries and Wildlife attended by Cabinet Ministers, captains of industry among others.

“From a Sakunda perspective, we want to provide sound funding, we have something which can kick-start the programme, we are thinking of providing about $10 million to kick-start your programme in livestock,” said Mr Tagwirei to wild applause.

“Secondly, we also think that we can participate on the poultry side because we believe that Government does not need to give guarantees on that programme because it is a short programme, two months or so, we can be able to assist you as Government in providing the necessary support to do with poultry, maybe up to one million to two million a month. That is what we are going to support initially.”

He implored other private players to work with Government to support agriculture saying there were downstream benefits.

“Let me say to my friends in the industry, if there is a better way of helping this economy to grow is to support agriculture, if you do not support agriculture whatever you might want to embark on will be a futile exercise,” he said.

Mr Tagwirei said the participation of his firm in Command Agriculture drew some benefits hence it was imperative for other companies to work with Government.

Mr Tagwirei said with the success of Command Agriculture, Zimbabwe was set to reclaim its status as the breadbasket of the Sadc region.

Speaking at the same occasion, Grain Millers Association chairperson, Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said his organisation would fund 100 hours of air quelea birds control in Middle Sabi.

He said they would also enhance their efforts in production of stock-feeds and making sure they were correctly priced.