Govt to fund cattle farmers

CATTLE farmers in Manicaland will soon receive funding from Government to acquire beasts for breeding under the Command Livestock programme.

For the past two years, farmers in the province have only taken up crops such as maize, wheat and soya bean under the Command Agriculture Scheme.

The coming in of the livestock scheme is a shot in the arm for farmers who are eager to restock their herd.

Makoni district agronomist, Mr Mahlupeko Chowafa, said over 800 farmers in the district had expressed interest in the programme, but only 48 had been chosen for the pilot project.

He said the farmers had been grouped in different categories according to their capacities.

“The Command Livestock programme is now in Makoni district in addition to maize, wheat and soya beans,” said Mr Chowafa.

“The scheme is on high demand as a total of 800 potential beneficiaries applied for the programme, but so far we are going to engage 48 farmers for a start.

“These farmers were selected from all the segments that are communal, old resettlement, A1 and A2.”

Mr Chowafa said communal, old resettlement and A1 farmers would receive a maximum of three beasts per farmer whilst commercial farmers would get a maximum of five.