By LAWRENCE KABUTU     –
Bretton Woods Institutions have accelerated agriculture development in Zambia through various projects aimed at addressing poverty in rural households.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made special strides in funding projects that involve the provision of capacity building to farmers in improved livestock management.
The various agricultural projects have also provided capacity building to staff in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in service delivery and also infrastructure development.
One such project currently in operation in all the districts of Southern Province,  is the Livestock Development and Animal Health project, which was launched in 2013 in Choma.
Southern Province Project Coordinator Ngoma Sikacheya says the main focus of the project is to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in farmer groups such as cooperatives through the facilitation of matching grants with the assistance of the World Bank.
Mr Sikacheya points out that the Livestock Development and Animal Health project is a six year project that will immensely assist small-scale farmers in farmer groups to improve their welfare and livelihoods.
He revealed that the project has so far disbursed over K2.5 million  to 56 farmer groups and cooperatives meant for the construction of infrastructure activities that they undertake.
Southern Province Agricultural coordinator Max Choombe says the beneficiary farmer groups have applied for funding in piggery, dairy, goat, beef, poultry and irrigation activities, among others.
Dr Choombe explains that the initial funds that has been released to the farmer groups and cooperatives in Kalomo, Monze, Mazabuka and Siavonga are for infrastructure development.
He said the infrastructure to be constructed include, goat housing structures, piggery pens, milking parlours, irrigation channels and pasture production.
Dr Choombe urged the beneficiary farmer groups and cooperatives in the four districts that all infrastructure should be constructed with the approval of the Technical Services Branch plans under the District Agricultural Coordinator’s office.
He sounded a stern warning to the beneficiaries not to divert funds to activities other than those involving infrastructure construction.
And Southern Province Agricultural Accountant Barbara Mwaanga urged farmer groups and cooperatives to exhibit team spirit in their work and avoid working as individuals in releasing funds to construct diverse infrastructure within the groups.
Ms Mwaanga called for enhanced accountability of all project funds to avoid conflict among farmer group members, which could have a negative bearing on agriculture development.
She notes that the funds should strictly be used for the sole purpose of infrastructure construction as the project will provide more funds to purchase livestock and poultry to farmer groups and cooperatives.
Provincial Veterinary Officer Charles Maseka says the livestock sector in Southern Province is the main source of livelihood of communities and stands out as a major economic growth contributor.
Dr Maseka explained that the project is also implemented in Southern, Eastern, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces.
He further said benefitting farmer groups and cooperatives in Southern Province would be closely monitored on a wider scoop to ensure smooth implementation of projects funded.
Dr Maseka reaffirmed government’s commitment to the livestock sector which he described as a multi-million dollar project.
“According to the previous livestock census, it indicates that, there are three million plus cattle in the country, of which Southern Province has registered over one million herds of cattle, thus the livestock sector is a multi-million project,’’ says Dr Maseka.
He made a passionate appeal to all farmer groups and cooperatives benefiting from the World Bank project to graduate to diverse stages and add value to their products.
He noted that farmer groups and cooperatives have a vision to grow into multi-million Kwacha  organisations as they graduated from lower levels to other improved scales through value chains.
Dr Maseka told all beneficiary farmer groups and cooperatives in Kalomo, Monze, Mazabuka and Siavonga that the Department of Veterinary will enforce Statutory Instrument Number 21 of 2014, which compels farmers to dip their animals.
He states that farmers should start treating farming as a business and not rearing cattle and small livestock for prestige.
And Kalomo District Commissioner Lucia Mwiinde paid tribute to the government and the World Bank for supporting 27 farmer groups and cooperatives in Kalomo, noting that, it was a major boost to the livestock sector.
Mr Mwiinde disclosed that over K2 million was disbursed to the farmer groups and cooperatives in Kalomo district.
He also advised the farmers to report any suspicious disease that may affect livestock to the Department of Veterinary.
“Cooperatives should not only be formed for the sole purpose of accessing fertiliser but graduate to own chain shops,’’ says Mr Mwiinde.
Monze District Commissioner Big Mwiinde also noted that nine farmer groups and cooperatives in Monze accessed K192, 950 to venture in goat project, dip tank, dairy, irrigation and piggery project.
Mr. Mwiinde observes that initially 17 farmer groups applied for the grants but only nine were successful.
And Chief Monze of the Tonga people cautioned farmer groups and cooperatives to use the funds prudently, to enable others access grants to venture in various projects.
Chief Monze notes that accountability of funds accessed by cooperatives and farmer groups is key to fostering agriculture development.
Mazabuka, District Commissioner Eugene Munyama urged farmers to work hard to contribute to poverty alleviation.
Mr Munyama added that the aim of the World Bank project is to seek smallholder improvement, access to market, disease control and natural resource management.
“The Livestock Development Animal Health Project will increase rural incomes through accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction,’’ he said.
Mr. Munyama further says the World Bank funded project will also fund East Coast Fever as well as Foot and Mouth disease control in Southern Province.
The beneficiary cooperatives and farmer groups in Mazabuka district accessed K232, 350 for diverse activities meant for infrastructure construction.
Meanwhile, Siavonga District Commissioner Brave Mweetwa stated that seven farmer groups and cooperatives in Siavonga accessed K147, 240 to engage in village Chicken production, dairy production, dip tank, beef production, goat production and pig production.
Mr. Mweetwa names the beneficiary farmer groups as Martinangala multi-purpose cooperative, Kabyobyo Womens’ and Youth Agriculture Cooperative, Muntanga cooperative and Nanyanga Multi-purpose cooperative society.
Others are Nsamuke agriculture cooperative, Namoomba multi-purpose cooperative and Siavonga Apostles Faith Healing Development.
Mr. Mweetwa states that the department of agri-business in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in his district has been tasked to improve business and entrepreneurship skills among farmer groups and cooperatives.
“All cases of misappropriation of funds will not be condoned in Siavonga as measures have been put in place to ensure that funds are put to good use,” says Mr. Mweetwa.
Value chains are cardinal in the livestock sector if farmer groups and cooperatives are to develop into other scales and enhance agriculture and economic development.
Value addition projects such as making cheese, Yoghurt from milk,  and meat processing such as Sausages, will fetch lucrative prices from their produce.
These are key value additions projects that farmer groups and cooperatives can scale-up.-NAIS