Green Livestock Production Techniques for Sustainable Livestock Production, Food Security and Poverty Alleviation in Smallholder Livestock Production Systems.
Green
livestock production technologies entails farming systems that promote and
increase the adoption of climate-smart innovations in livestock-based
production systems. Climate-smart livestock production practices such as fodder
production and conservation, quality improvement of crop residues and proper
conservation, water harvesting, veld and rangeland reinforcement with browse
and forage legumes, use of medicinal and pesticidal plants in disease and pest
control and efficient manure management.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through feeding dietary additives and
other plant secondary metabolites such as sapponins, tannins and oils are part
of the climate smart technologies used in dairies and feedlot operations. All
livestock farming practices that enhance livestock productivity whilst
supporting the regenerative capacity of the environment are key for sustainable
cattle production systems. These interventions will support activities that
will bring an improved economic, social and environmental performance and thus
creating an enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive beef value
chains in Zimbabwe. Cattle production systems that lower the rate of both
environmental degradation and depletion of the ozone layer due to production of
greenhouse gases are part of the climate smart innovation technologies which
should be promoted and adopted for food security, poverty alleviation and
sustainability.
Cattle production is an
important part of Agriculture, and it significantly supports the livelihoods of
the country’s population. Cattle provides income and employment to farmers,
agricultural service providers and others involved in the value chain.
According to Bennett et al., (2019), cattle farming is a potential foreign
exchange earner with multiple linkages along the value chain and is a vital
source of income for many Zimbabweans.
Even though estimates vary widely, livestock is thought to contribute
19% of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product (GDP), 35–40% of agricultural GDP
(GoZ, 2018) and 40–86% of the household incomes (LMAC, 2017; Food and Nutrition
Council, 2019). Livestock has multiple uses apart from draught power, including
cash storage for those beyond the reach of the banking system, income
generation, manure for fuel and fertilizer, and other cultural services such as
lobola (dowry). Livestock is of economic and social importance both at the
household and national levels. Zimbabwe’s livestock production system is
characterized by small-scale subsistence farming. Despite the importance of livestock to rural
livelihoods, productivity remains low and unsustainable methods are still being
used. This is mostly associated with farmer behaviour, poor quality of animal
breeds, feed quality and quantity deficit during the dry season and its cost,
parasites and diseases, and erratic and low rainfall distribution in most areas
of the country.