Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #3 FY2018

The program began on June 23, 2015, and runs through June 22, 2020, with a focus on increasing production, productivity, and market linkages in agro-ecological regions III, IV, and V. Activities are concentrated on low-income and food-insecure households with the potential to move from subsistence to small-scale commercial farmers. The program's objectives are achieved through various interventions, including training and technical assistance to smallholder farmers, facilitation of access to inputs, technology, finance, and credit, and linking producers to local, national, regional, and international buyers. Additionally, the program focuses on building demand for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products by emphasizing quality, continuity of supply, and cost competitiveness. Collaboration with local private companies, nongovernmental organizations, and government departments is essential to ensure sustainability. Implementation of the program has led to significant progress in various areas. Beneficiaries have shown improvements in incremental sales, productivity, and nutrition and WASH practices. For instance, more than 2,500 farmers received training in sustainable agriculture techniques, resulting in yield improvements of 60% in demonstration plots. The program has also made notable strides in gender mainstreaming, with a focus on empowering women and youth through groups and training programs. Environmental mitigation and monitoring plans are in place to ensure the program's activities do not harm the environment. Training and technical assistance are provided to beneficiaries to adopt good agricultural, business, and animal husbandry practices. The program also collaborates with other donor programs to provide specialized technical support to produce nutritious crops that sustainably increase the availability of these foods among beneficiary households. The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program is a collaborative effort between Fintrac, local private companies, nongovernmental organizations, and government departments. The program's success is measured through various indicators, including incremental sales, productivity, and nutrition and WASH practices. The program's focus on sustainability, market-driven approaches, and collaboration with local stakeholders has contributed to its progress and impact.