Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Government has launched a US$25 million Livestock Health and Infrastructure Facility to modernise livestock production and accelerate the recovery of the national cattle herd under the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan.
Chief Director in the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Farm Infrastructure Development, Edwin Zimunga on Thursday said the facility would finance critical livestock infrastructure needed to improve animal health, productivity and commercialisation.
He said the initiative forms part of government’s broader efforts to achieve livestock production targets under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“The government has launched a US$25 million Livestock Health and Infrastructure Facility to modernise livestock production and accelerate growth of the national herd under the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan,” he said.
Zimunga explained that the facility would fund the construction and rehabilitation of animal sheds, pens, feedlots, kraals, spray races, dip tanks and the acquisition of related equipment.
He also highlighted that the programme was being implemented through the Mechanisation Development Alliance Programme and Framework in partnership with the private sector.
Under the financing model, farmers will pay a commitment fee of US$15, with the balance repayable over five years, a move designed to make investment in capital-intensive livestock infrastructure affordable for both smallholder and commercial producers.
Zimunga said improved livestock infrastructure was critical for strengthening animal health management, boosting productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of the country’s livestock sector.
The facility is expected to improve disease control through better dipping and handling facilities while increasing farmers’ capacity to produce quality beef, dairy and other livestock products.
The launch comes as the government continues implementing programmes aimed at rebuilding the national herd and improving livestock productivity, which has been constrained by recurring droughts, disease outbreaks and inadequate on-farm infrastructure.
Livestock production remains a key pillar of the country’s agricultural sector, contributing significantly to rural livelihoods, household incomes and national food security.
Government has in recent years stepped up investment in livestock recovery initiatives, including nationwide cattle branding, rehabilitation of dip tanks and strengthened animal disease surveillance, as part of efforts to restore herd numbers and increase the sector’s contribution to economic growth under Vision 2030.
