LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE LOCAL FEEDLOT SCHEME

Mangwe Farmer's Association's Smithblock Feedlot

Many people from different parts of the country came to witness the Mangwe Farmers Association (MFA) local feedlot scheme launch at Hobodo village last week. Speaker after speaker showered praises on the Mangwe Farmers Association and its partners for coming up with a scheme that will serve thousands of cattle in the drought stricken Mangwe district. 

Most associations are in the newspapers for the wrong reasons such as leadership wrangles and embezzlement of funds, instead Mangwe Farmers Association leadership has that rare gene of honesty and transparency. MFA has inculcated the spirit of oneness and a desire to succeed even in the face of the devastating drought. Spine chilling accounts of threats to the success of the scheme given by feedlot committee chairpersons from Smithblock, Sanzukwi and Hobodo clearly demonstrate an unparalleled resilience.

‘Mind your own business,’ and ‘each man for himself’ are flowed concepts that have sunk our communities to deep poverty. I know that such talk caresses our latent greed and sense of self. But it causes hatred and disgust to fellow humans that were designed by God to make a living together through our multiplicity of talents and skills. The concept of company is premised on the understanding that people ought to invest, share the risks and spoils together. Economic texts document the disadvantages of a sole trader yet people still persist in going solo.

The scheme shows that it is indeed possible to link farmers with agribusinesses such as Bulawayo Abattoirs and stock feed supplier, Agrifoods without crying out to government. Communal areas are reportedly holding on to about eighty percent of the cattle in the country, unfortunately the cattle are either very poor or lack good finishing to fetch better grades and farmers are disorganised to attract rewarding relationships. Unless there is a link between the market and the source of raw material through a reliable conduit (farmers’ association), the mismatch between demand and supply will persist.   

Government extension workers are faced with insurmountable challenges such as lack of transport during the execution of their duties in the wards. This scheme provides a platform for extension workers and farmers to meet discuss and train production and marketing skills. Most importantly the scheme has farming as a business training component that serves as a work up call to farmers that should you snooze you lose. It also thrives on peer influences and discussions well after the training sessions.

The scheme demonstrates through Bulawayo Abattoirs, Agrifoods and MFA that it is possible to provide an enabling environment for each other in the value chain without compromising profit margins. Here is the fairest part of the deal: let us all make money.

Dr Ronny Sibanda, Senior Livestock Advisor at SNV, the brains behind the local feedlot model, reiterated the need for breed improvement programs within the scheme to improve feed conversion and better carcass quality. Certainly, the feed would be very costly due to poor live weight gains. Feeding pens can be used to isolate females from the prowling and extremely efficient local bulls (iminjanja) and then introduce cheaper ways such as artificial insemination.

Central and local government should provide a conducive environment for agribusinesses and farmers to work together. Punitive levies, cumbersome police clearances, veterinary and grading fees must not be a deterrent to smooth transactions at the livestock markets. Some archaic laws aught to be revised, eradicated or new ones put in place.   

This scheme is certainly a good attempt to mitigate the effects of drought and also offer farmers the opportunity to improve the quality of their animals before slaughter. However, there are acres of opportunity to improve this scheme. This is an opportunity for professionals to take up the challenge and produce life changing models rather than hibernate at institutions of higher learning. The writing is on the wall for all to see, that where there is a will there is definitely a way.  

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Your report, “All Roads lead to Hobodo" was classic and very interesting. I and other people can’t wait to see the post-mortem (sic) i.e. a review/comment on the launch and the subsequent developments on the feedlots. I am part of the farming community in the area.

Regards

Ernest Mpabanga