LUAPULA’S LIVESTOCK LEAP: THE IMPACT OF E-SLIP’S CATTLE RESTOCKING INTERVNETIONS

By MWIINGA MUKUWA

LUAPULA Province is endowed with abundant naturalresources favourable for pasture production and cattle rearing. It is also a designated a disease-free zone because it is free from economically significant livestock diseases and transboundary animal diseases such asanthrax, Foot and Mouth Disease, (FMD) and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP).

Owing to itsnumerous natural water bodies, Luapula Province also has potential for all year round pasture growing.

Speaking in an interview, Provincial Livestock Development Officer for Luapula Province, Memory Hamukombo disclosed the Province has recorded asignificant increase in its cattle population, now standing at approximately 23,000 herds.

“Beforethe Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme (E-SLIP) was introducedin the Province, thepopulation of cattlewas about 11,000 head.Currently, we have about 23,000 head across the Province,”Ms Hamukombo said.

She attributed this growth to the pass-onprogramme, under which E-SLIP beneficiariesare mandated to transferlivestock to other members within their groups, thereby increasing cattle numbers across communities.

E-SLIPis a government programme co-financed by the Government of Zambia, and theInternational Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It has been implementing various interventions aimed at increased livestock production andproductivity in Zambia.

Ms Hamukombo explained, in Luapula, theE-SLIP programme has implementedseveral interventions, including stocking and restocking of various livestock, for ageproduction, and rangeland management.

“When I talk about stocking and restocking, asignificant number of livestock were brought into the Province. Since 2017, we have receivedabout 94 cattle, 830 goats, 10,000 improved village chickens, and 400 rabbits,”she said.

MsHamukombo revealed farmers in Luapula were stocked with the Boran breed of cattle, among others, which she described as docile and easy to manage.

She also disclosed the Province has four rangelands located inMansa, Kawambwa, Chifunabuli, and Chipili districts. Each rangeland had a nursery where farmers access seedlings, which are transplanted annually across the rangelands.

Ms Hamukombo added that several livestock management training programmes have been conducted with support from E-SLIP and that these trainings focused onon forage production, utilisation, and conservation. Farmers were also trained in animal handling, feeding, and infrastructure preparation before receiving livestock.

She explained that trainings in forage production had enabled some farmers to produce hay bales for sale to commercial farmers while also reducing their costs of livestock feed production.

Meanwhile, Luapula Provincial Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator,  Joseph Chiti, applauded Koni Cooperative in Mwansabombwe District for effectively managing the cattle that they received through E-SLIP.

Mr Chiti explained  Koni Cooperative received Boran and Brahman cattle breeds, respectively, through the stocking and restocking interventions.

“The farmers have continued with the pass-on programme, where each beneficiary is required to pass on livestock to the next farmer,” he said.

He added through E-SLIP intervention, the Cooperative was also supportedwith a bull from another cooperative in Kaputa District, which had also been restocked under E-SLIP  and thegroup is performing well.

MrChiti observed farmers in Luapula province were now beginning to regard cattle as a “moving bank” as they can be sold to address house hold needs most especially school fees.

“Considering that universities and colleges haveopened, some farmers are offloading cattle to pay their children’s tuitionfees,” Mr Chiti said.

And Koni Cooperative Secretary, Laurence Mpundu, explainedthe Cooperative was initially empowered with 42 headof cattle, which have since increased to 57.

He said the agreement required farmers to pass on two cows to other cooperative members once their animals gave birth.

Meanwhile, a member of Koni Cooperative, Rose Mwewa, explained in 2016 her group received 20 headof cattle, which were shared at two cows per household.

“I received two cows, and in 2017, E-SLIP brought a bull. After the cows gave birth, about eight house holds passed on cattle to other beneficiaries, and certificates wereissued during a launch,” she said.

Ms Mwewa disclosed, she sold some cattle to pay her children’s tuition fees at Mbereshi Nursing School.

She described cattle rearing as a lucrative venture, noting that three of her cattle were pregnant while two already have calves.

“I am also building a house with iron sheets  through cattle rearing after selling animals with approval from the cooperative facilitator,” she revealed.

With this mind set shift towards livestock rearing, it is inevitable that the livestock sector in Zambia will significantly grow. -NAIS

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