Dairy farmers adopt climate smart technologies
FRom a global perspective, the climate is changing at a faster rate, and Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, dairy to be specific, cannot be excluded from such a predicament. From the dairy perspective, temperature rise, erratic rainfall and distribution, are still major climatic issues of concern which have drawn the attention of various development practitioners, private players within the dairy value chain and government to utilise sustainable climate start technologies (cSTs).
Despite the fact that earlier proponents of climate smart agriculture (cSa) were of the view that industrialisation was the only driver of climate change and agriculture was a victim of such a dilemma, recent literature points out that agriculture, livestock to be specific, if not well managed can be one of the major climate change drivers, through poor agronomic practices.
However, there is now a growing recognition of agriculture’s contribution to climate change, past and present, and of the means by which farming systems can adapt to cope with the changes, as well as the potential of agriculture to mitigate climate-change impact. This recognition has led to the concept of cSa and the Zimbabwe association of Dairy Farmers (ZaDF) is participating in mitigation and adaptation through adoption of cSTs.
Sustainable grazing methods for better
livelihoods
The restoration of degraded grasslands through sustainable grassland management includes reductions in grazing pressure on overstocked areas, growing improved pastures and better pasture management.
ZaDF facilitates management of herd structures to reduce the number of non-productive animals through improved animal and herd fertility and reproduction as an effective approach to reduce emissions per unit of milk. This can also lock more carbon in soils and biomass, increase the water-holding capacity of the soil and enhance grassland biodiversity.
The Transforming Dairy Value chain (TranzDVc) dairy project implemented by ZaDF and other partners also considers environmental protection as element of cSa with emphasis on better stockfeed sources in a manner that restores degraded grazing land and sequesters soil carbon, and at the same time increases milk productivity, builds resilience and improves livelihoods in dairy farm communities.
Planting of fodder crops such as lucern, katambora grasses, use of hay and banana, maize silage under dairy is a sustainable way of protecting the environment from overgrazing.
Feeding intensively from a smaller unit per area has proved to be a climate smart knowledge system which minimises loss of weight among dairy breeds, reduces soil pans and compacts from dairy cattle if permitted to move around the farm.
Feed management
increase feed efficiency by optimising the total digestible nutrient content in feed. in addition, use of precision feeding techniques to match animal requirements with dietary nutrient supply for specific physiological status and production level. Farmers are using more locally produced feeds and source low emission feeds such as byproducts.
Under cSa this can be achieved through use of nutritious plant species like the acacia tree ( muvuzhe), mupangara, musekesa mixed with other locally produced raw materials such as cotton seed cake, limestone flower and bran to ease pressure on inadequate pastures and grazing lands.
ZaDF is encouraging farmers under cSa to adopt traditional indigenous species and other locally available home mix raw materials to minimise cost in the dairy industry through efficient utilisation of natural resources available in climate changed environment.
Environmental awareness campaigns via social media and ICT platforms
Reducing the prevalence of diseases and parasites generally reduces emissions and intensity as healthier animals are more productive and thus produce lower emissions per unit of
output. Taking that into cognisance, ZaDF has created communication platforms on various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook for creating environmental awareness and environmental education.
We have introduced a Health Talk Weekly Bulletin which together with other bulletins provides information on diseases and parasites affecting dairy cattle and strategies to prevent or mitigate such diseases.
Diseases such as Foot and mouth Disease (FmD), Theileriosis (January Disease), contagious abortion, among others, require attention and dairy breeds must be protected through biosecurity and biosafety measures under cSa.
Therefore, foot baths, proper sanitisation, bill boards with biosecurity information are major biosafety and biosecurity measures from dairy perspective.
Waste management through climate smart
energy generation
our organisation advocates for methods of manure management which reduce emissions, and integrating livestock with crops in order to reduce waste and improve soil fertility. Under such a situation some of our members are engaged in biogas generation as a dairy waste management strategy. (Uses of biogas …lighting and refrigeration
Green technology as a climate smart initiative
in implementation and monitoring specific carbon farming activities and generating carbon credits ZaDF is advocating for green technologies such as solar power as a climate smart initiative. ZaDF is implementing the TranZDVc project were farmers are opting for solar power to minimise the use of fossil fuels in generation of power for cooking, heating and milking.
Artificial insemination as a strategy under CSA
our organisation is also involved in artificial insemination to develop new breeds of ruminants which produce less methane, and which are compatible with the local climatic harsh conditions.
Diversification systems
our ZaDF members are developing safety nets through diversification into other projects like macadamia nuts, wheat farming, floriculture, fish farming and horticulture to hedge against climatic change risks which has an adverse effect on dairy productivity. other innovative approaches are being tested throughout the dairy sector to manage productivity.
Contact Details address
ZaDF number 46 Lawson ave milton Park Harare
Telephone: 0242251848 email: admin@zadf.co.zw website: www.zadf.co.zw skype: Zimbabwe association of Dairy Farmers
Twitter: @ZaDF84363485