By Simbarashe Muparaganda
CHEGUTU — The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development recently handed over a hay baler tractor to benefit farmers in Chegutu District in Mashonaland West Province.
According to the ministry, this move is expected to strengthen livestock feed security and help farmers prepare for increasingly erratic weather conditions.
The machinery, stationed in Ward 14, will be available to farmers across the district for baling grass and other fodder into compact bales for storage and future use.
“The hay baler tractor set will assist farmers in preserving fodder when it is available, reducing pressure on livestock during dry periods and improving the resilience of farming communities.
“Hay baling enables farmers to harvest and store surplus grass while it is still nutritious, reducing losses that can occur when fodder is left exposed to rain, wind, and prolonged sunlight,” said the ministry.
Baled hay is also easier to transport, stack, and distribute to cattle, goats, and other livestock.
This intervention comes as climate change continues to bring more frequent dry spells, uneven rainfall, and pasture shortages.
By building fodder reserves during the rainy season, farmers can maintain animal nutrition, limit livestock deaths, and protect production when grazing land becomes scarce.
The ministry said the deployment is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to equip farmers with appropriate machinery and support sustainable livestock production nationwide.
