Annual Report #3: Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program

The program began on June 23, 2015, and runs through June 22, 2020, with a focus on agro-ecological regions III, IV, and V. Activities are confined to low-income and food-insecure households with the potential to move from subsistence to small-scale commercial farmers. The program's objectives are to raise efficiencies in beef and dairy production systems, facilitate access to inputs, technology, finance, and credit, and link producers to local, national, regional, and international buyers. Additionally, the program aims to train farmers to adopt good agricultural, business, and animal husbandry practices, as well as good nutrition and hygiene practices. The program also seeks to strengthen the capacity of its local partners to implement agricultural development programs. The program is implemented in collaboration with local private companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Division of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD), the Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), and other government departments involved in the beef and dairy value chains. Local NGOs and commercial companies work with the program as development partners, co-funding purchases of essential inputs and new technologies for demonstration purposes on a cost-recovery basis. The program's geographic distribution of beneficiaries as of September 2018 is shown in Figure 1. The program is providing technical assistance to reduce poverty and increase food security among 1,800 beef and dairy smallholder producers. The program's activities are focused on increasing production, productivity, and market linkages, with a goal of commercializing small-scale beef and dairy farmers on communal and non-contested land. The program's approach is to build demand for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products by focusing on quality, continuity of supply, and cost-competitiveness. The program also collaborates with the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development program and other donor programs to provide specialized technical support to produce nutritious crops that sustainably increase the availability of these foods among beneficiary households. The program's results for the period of October 2017 to September 2018, Fiscal Year 2018 (FY2018), are presented in the following sections. The program's activity achievements, results on performance indicators, and anecdotal information from beneficiaries are highlighted, providing a comprehensive overview of the program's progress and impact. The program's beneficiaries are primarily smallholder farmers, with a focus on low-income and food-insecure households. The program's activities are designed to improve the livelihoods of these farmers, increasing their incomes and improving their access to food and other essential services. The program's approach is market-driven, with a focus on building demand for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products. The program's results for FY2018 are presented in the following sections, highlighting the program's achievements and impact on the lives of its beneficiaries. The program's activity achievements, results on performance indicators, and anecdotal information from beneficiaries are presented, providing a comprehensive overview of the program's progress and impact. The program's geographic focus is on agro-ecological regions III, IV, and V, with a focus on low-income and food-insecure households. The program's activities are designed to improve the livelihoods of these farmers, increasing their incomes and improving their access to food and other essential services. The program's approach is market-driven, with a focus on building demand for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products. The program's timeframes are from June 23, 2015, to June 22, 2020, with a focus on FY2018. The program's results for FY2018 are presented in the following sections, highlighting the program's achievements and impact on the lives of its beneficiaries. The program's activity achievements, results on performance indicators, and anecdotal information from beneficiaries are presented, providing a comprehensive overview of the program's progress and impact. The program's recommendations for future implementation are based on the lessons learned and challenges faced during FY2018. The program's approach is market-driven, with a focus on building demand for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products. The program's results for FY2018 are presented in the following sections, highlighting the program's achievements and impact on the lives of its beneficiaries.