Fodder Production Only Solution for Improved Livestock Nutrition

By JOSIAHMPOFU

With seasonal decline in both quantity and quality of forages during prolonged dry spells especially between May and November, there is need for more strategies aimed at improving the sustainable production of livestock foodstuffs in order to reduce over dependency on communal grazing lands.

Chronic nutritional stress on grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats can lead to reduced productivity thereby negatively affecting the Dairy and Beef industry.

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There is need for constant supply of good nutrition for livestock because a hungry animal can neither produce quality beef nor produce enough milk consequently.

In order to help the majority smallholder farmers access quality forage seed and information as well as skills on how to produce forages and pasture seeds, government through the Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme (E-SLIP), has seriously embarked on pasture and forage development programmes aimed at boosting the livestock sector.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Nkandu Luo explained that her Ministry is currently educating farmers across the country on how to sustainably produce adequate and quality fodder seed production and marketing to ensure the availability of feed for livestock.

Shed is closed that inadequate supply and poor access by majority of smallholder farmers to quality forage seed is due to limited information and skills on how to produce forage and pasture seed as well as the economical utilization of the commodities.

Professor Luo said this in a speech read for her by Deputy Director under the departmentof Livestock Development in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Young Vibetti, during the pasture and forage field day which was commemorated under the theme ‘Promoting Climate Smart Market Oriented Forage and Forage Seed Production, Conservation  and Utilization’ in Chirundu District of Lusaka province.

According to (Allen 1991) Forage is referred to as plants or parts of plants eaten by livestock such as cows, rabbits and sheep among others. They are edible parts of plants, other than separated grain, that can provide feed for grazing animals and can be harvested for feeding.

Professor Luo added that government is also promoting irrigated pasture and fodder production as well as reducing tax rate on pasture seed importation in order to encourage more farmers to effectively engage into profitable livestock production.

“In an effort to address challenges of chronic nutrition stress on grazing livestock, government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock with support from projects such as E-SLIP which is jointly funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), has seriously embarked on pasture and forage development Programmes at community and households levels,” professor Luo explained.

Professor Luo emphasized the need to build capacity for small smallholder farmers in order for them to sustainably participate in fodder seed production and marketing to guarantee adequate quantities and quality forage.

“The Ministry is engaging rural schools and livestock service centers in forage demonstration and promotion and establishing a forage network system in order to foster exchange and dissemination of information between extension staff and farmers. These activities are aimed at enhancing farmers’ capacity to effectively engage into profitable livestock production for improved livelihoods and ultimately enable majority rural poor to move out of poverty, ”said Professor Luo.

She stated that the initiative will lead to increased crop production resulting from soil improvement through effective use of leguminous fodder crops and planned crop rotations.

Professor Luo explained that the direct sale of fodder to livestock farmers even by farmers who do not keep livestock will lead to increased rural incomes.

“If farmers are equipped with the necessary irrigation equipment and they have access to quality seed, it is very possible for them to produce pasture and fodder crops and produce seed both on and off season,’ explained Professor Luo.

And the University Of Zambia under the Department of plant science Senior Lecturer Davies Lungu has reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to develop various forage seed varieties that are aimed at improving livestock development.

Dr. Lungu said the institution has so far developed climate smart grass and two cowpea varieties which will help to improve livestock nutrition.

“The newly introduced two cowpea crop varieties called Lukusuzi and Lukwankwa are well adapted to the dry low rainfall areas such as Chirundu and the Gwembe valley,” said Dr. Lungu.

Dr. Lungu said the University was developing forage seed that will help improve communal grazing areas through over-sowing of well adapted leguminous species.

Dr. Lungu stressed the importance of prioritizing pasture and fodder crops production as farmers can still sell livestock to buy other necessities.

Meanwhile a farmer from Chirundu Ery Nguni expressed confidence over the knowledge she acquired saying it will go a long way in improving her life and fellow farmers who usually cultivate maize.

Mrs.Nguni who currently has 20 cows is optimistic that her cattle will now increaseas she will be able to grow forage for her livestock.

“Mycows will now grow health because I will be feeding them proper food which Iwill be growing on my own compared to the past were I used to depend on naturalgrass which was insufficient especially in the dry season and has lessnutrients,” said Mrs. Nguni.

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