Piggery Production and the Empowerment of Rural People in Ward 21 of Gutu District
This is a research paper by Bernard Chazovachii that evaluates the contribution of piggery production project to the empowerment of rural people in ward 21 of Gutu District, Masvingo Province. The project was implemented by Action Faim, a non-governmental organization (NGO), in response to the social exclusion and poverty faced by the villagers. The paper uses questionnaires, interviews, and field observations to collect data from the beneficiaries of the project.
The paper finds that the project provided various benefits to the villagers, such as meat (human capital), manure and infrastructures (physical capital), and financial capital. These benefits enabled the villagers to enhance their human capital, increase their income, broaden their livelihood portfolios, and improve their food security. The paper also notes that the project achieved economic empowerment to some extent, but failed to address social empowerment issues such as gender inequality, HIV and AIDS stigma, and marginalization of vulnerable groups. The paper recommends that future piggery projects should include all the people in the village willing to participate regardless of their age, sex, marital status, and health; and that training and marketing of products should be strengthened for the sustainability of the empowerment projects.
Progress in Zimbabweâs Small-Scale Pig Production
This is a news article by Pig Progress that reports on the progress of small-scale pig production in Zimbabwe. The article highlights the achievements of Tarara farm, one of the beneficiaries of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP), which is funded by the European Union (EU). The ZAGP is designed to address the bottlenecks in pig production by enhancing production and productivity, easing access to viable markets, and improving breeds.
The article reveals that Tarara farm has beaten the Zimbabwean and African record of born alive piglets per sow per year. The farm has a sow that gave birth to 31 piglets in a year, which is a new African record. The sow is a Dalland/Large White crossbreed that was naturally mated to a Large White/Duroc boar. The farm uses split suckling, milk replacers, and home-made colostrum to raise the piglets. The article also mentions that the new breeding stock acquired through the ZAGP programme is expected to be a game changer for the local pork industry, as it can produce between 18 and 20 piglets per year.
Opportunities for Piggery Projects in Zimbabwe
Despite the challenges faced by piggery projects in Zimbabwe, there are also opportunities for growth and development. Some of these opportunities are:
EU funding: The EU has availed a US$ 40 million facility for ZAGP, which will run for four years. The ZAGP aims to upscale subsistence producers to commercial stage and turn pig farming into a vibrant sector that contributes significantly to the countryâs economy.
Compensation for commercial farmers: The government of Zimbabwe has stated that foreign white farmers whose land was seized during the land redistribution programme can apply to get it back or be offered land elsewhere if restitution proves impractical. This could create more space for piggery projects on commercial farms.
Demand for pork: According to a report by IndexBox, Zimbabweâs pork consumption increased by 5.8% in 2019 to reach 17 thousand tonnes. The report also forecasts that pork consumption will continue to grow by 3% per year until 2030. This indicates a high demand for pork products in the country.
In conclusion, piggery projects in Zimbabwe have potential to empower rural people and boost the economy. However, they also face many challenges that need to be addressed by stakeholders such as NGOs, government, farmers, and consumers. Piggery projects should also leverage the opportunities that exist in the sector and adopt best practices to improve their performance and sustainability.
References:
Chazovachii, B. (2012). Piggery production and the empowerment of rural people in ward 21 of Gutu District, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 14(3), 1-15.
Pig Progress. (2020). Progress in Zimbabweâs small-scale pig production. Retrieved from [Pig Progress].
Reuters. (2020). Zimbabwe says foreign white farmers can apply to get land back. Retrieved from [Reuters].
IndexBox. (2020). Zimbabwe - Pork Meat - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights. Retrieved from [IndexBox].
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