Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe can tap into the growing global meat market, which is expected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2027, by adding value and enhancing exports, a senior official has said.
Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development, Obert Jiri said this while addressing delegates attending the inaugural 2025 Livestock Conference at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) on Friday.
The event ran under the theme “Balancing Livestock Development with Environmental Sustainability, Financing Growth, and Unlocking Opportunities in the Livestock Value Chain,”
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, and the Bulawayo Agricultural Society convened the conference.
It brought together key players in the livestock value chain to discuss industry trends, spotlight opportunities, address sector challenges, and explore strategies for sustainable growth and export development.
“With the global meat market expected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2027, there lies a significant opportunity for countries like Zimbabwe to enhance exports and value addition.
“By addressing these critical areas, we can develop a resilient livestock sector that strengthens food security, fosters economic resilience, and moves us closer to achieving Vision 2030, wherein livestock plays a pivotal role in our nation’s development,” he said.
Jiri urged farmers to commit to actionable solutions that will evolve the livestock sector into a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive industry.
He also said livestock is not merely an economic asset but a cornerstone of rural livelihoods, food security, and cultural identity.
“To boost the livestock sector, the Ministry in 2021 launched the Livestock Growth Plan (LGP), an implementation tool of the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy (AFSRTS),” he said.
“The LGP seeks to establish a $2 billion livestock economy by 2025, anchored on the following pillars: animal health, nutrition, and genetics. The plan addresses long-standing challenges in the livestock subsector, such as tsetse infestation, foot-and-mouth disease, tick-borne diseases, and dip tank rehabilitation and construction,” he added.
Jiri emphasized that the full implementation of the plan would restore Zimbabwe’s status as a regional livestock powerhouse.
In light of the El Niño-induced drought, Jiri said his Ministry is implementing robust drought mitigation strategies, including the establishment of 1 620 Drought Mitigation Ward Centres (DMWC) and supporting the construction of water troughs for 10 000 Village Business Units (VBUs).
“The government launched a blitz borehole drilling program aimed at providing water for both humans and livestock across the country. We are also supporting mass vaccination and deworming of livestock to enhance their chances of surviving the drought period,” he said.
“In collaboration with development partners, we have implemented feed intervention strategies, providing vital support such as hay, silage, and beef survival meal for livestock sustenance. Our targeted feed supplementation focuses on vulnerable districts, particularly within Matabeleland, distributing 9 665 metric tons out of 15 000 metric tons of maize silage and 280 metric tons out of 600 metric tons of wheat silage to distressed wards,” Jiri added.
He said these interventions have saved two million cattle at high risk of death due to the drought.
Jiri highlighted that access to financial resources remains a significant obstacle for many farmers, stressing that financing growth within the livestock sector is fundamental to realizing its full potential.
New Ziana
