Quarterly Report #2 FY2017 Livestock Development Program January – March 2017

Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Fintrac Inc. www.fintrac.com [email protected]

US Virgin Islands 3077 Kronprindsens Gade 72 St. Thomas, USVI 00802 Tel: (340) 776-7600 Fax: (340) 776-7601

Washington, DC 1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20036 USA Tel: (202) 462-8475 Fax: (202) 462-8478

Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program (FTFZ-LD) 5 Premium Close Mt. Pleasant Business Park Mt. Pleasant, Zimbabwe Tel: +263 4 338964-69 [email protected] www.fintrac.com

Cover Photo: Healthy calves are the foundation for herd productivity and profitability. The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program is training farmers on good calf rearing and husbandry practices.

All Photos by Fintrac

April 2017 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was prepared by Fintrac Inc. under contract AID-613-C-15-00001 with USAID/Zimbabwe.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

CONTENTS ACRONYM LIST ...... I FOREWORD ...... III 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 1 2. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ...... 5 3. ACTIVITIES ...... 7 3.1 Beneficiaries ...... 9 3.2 Incremental Sales ...... 11 3.3 Productivity ...... 15 3.4 Nutrition and WASH ...... 32 3.5 Business Development and Financial Linkages ...... 38 3.6 Local Capacity Development ...... 45 4. ENVIRONMENT ...... 49 4.1 Training and Technical Assistance ...... 51 4.2 EMMP ...... 52 5. GENDER ...... 56 5.1 Gender Mainstreaming ...... 56 5.2 Gender Trainings ...... 58 5.3 Measuring Gender Impact and Women’s Empowerment ...... 58 5.4 Leadership ...... 60 5.5 Access to Technology, Finance, Credit, and Markets ...... 60 5.6 Strengthening Women and Youth through Groups ...... 62 6. LESSONS LEARNED ...... 63 7. CHALLENGES ...... 64 8. ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR NEXT QUARTER ...... 65 9. FINANCIAL SUMMARY ...... 66 ANNEX 1. SNAPSHOTS...... 67 ANNEX 2. ILLUSTRATIVE INDICATORS ...... 71 ANNEX 3. LIST OF BUYERS ...... 75 ANNEX 4. LIST OF INPUT SUPPLIERS ...... 76

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

ACRONYM LIST

ABS-TCM African Breeders Services Total Cattle Management Ltd. AI Artificial Insemination ARDA Agricultural and Rural Development Authority CBO Community-based Organization CBS Competitive Brand Shapers CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy CIRIS Client Impact and Results Information System DLPD Division of Livestock Production and Development DVS Department of Veterinary Services EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan ENSURE Enhancing Nutrition, Stepping Up Resilience and Enterprise FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FMD Foot and Mouth Disease FTF Feed the Future FY Fiscal Year GAPs Good Agricultural Practice(s) GAHPs Good Animal Husbandry Practice(s) GBV Gender-based Violence GDCS Gokwe Dairy Cooperative Society HLLM Holistic Livestock and Land Management IT Information Technology IRC International Rescue Committee ISAL Internal Savings and Lending LOP Life of Program MCC Milk Collection Center M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MFI Microfinance Institution MOU Memorandum of Understanding MWAGCD Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development NGO Nongovernmental Organization NRM Natural Resource Management OCA Organizational Capacity Assessment ODK Open Data Kit OPI Organizational Performance Index PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan PMP Performance Management Plan PPE Personal Protective Equipment RDC Rural District Council RFP Request for Proposal RTGS Real Time Gross Settlement SDCS Dairy Cooperative Society SSC Small-Scale Commercial SUAP Safe Use Action Plan TBC Total Bacterial Count UDA Dairy Association

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USAID United States Agency for International Development USG US Government VAT Value Added Tax VHW Village Health Workers WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene ZIMRA Zimbabwe Revenue Authority

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FOREWORD

The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program began June 23, 2015 and runs through June 22, 2020. The program is providing training and technical assistance to reduce rural poverty and improve household food security, incomes, and nutritional status among beef and dairy smallholder producers through increased production, productivity, and market linkages. Activities are confined to agro-ecological regions III, IV, and V focusing on low-income and food-insecure households with the potential to move from subsistence to small-scale commercial farmers. In addition, the program seeks to improve the capacity of its local partners to implement agricultural development programs. Commercialization of small-scale beef and dairy farmers on communal and non-contested land is being achieved by:  Raising efficiencies in beef and dairy production systems;  Facilitating access to inputs, technology, finance, and credit;  Linking producers to local, national, regional, and international buyers;  Training farmers to adopt good agricultural, business, and animal husbandry practices;  Training farmers to adopt good nutrition and hygiene practices; and  Strengthening the capacity of the program’s local partners to implement agricultural development programs. The program is building demand for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products by focusing on quality, continuity of supply, and cost-competitiveness. The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development 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. Fintrac is implementing the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program in partnership with subcontractor ABS-TCM and other local private companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Division of Livestock Production and Development, the Department of Veterinary Services, and other Zimbabwean government departments involved in the beef and dairy value chains. Local nongovernmental organizations and commercial companies work with the program as development partners, to co-fund purchases of essential inputs and new technologies for demonstration purposes. In summary, the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program is a market-driven program that works closely with small, medium, and large-scale buyers to raise demand and increase competition for smallholder-produced beef and dairy products. The program directly contributes to food availability and access by concurrently increasing production and raising incomes of rural households in selected areas.

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is the seventh quarterly report for the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program funded by USAID/Zimbabwe under contract AID-613-C-15-00001 and implemented by Fintrac Inc. The report presents activity achievements, results on some performance indicators1,2, and anecdotal information from beneficiaries between January and March 2017 (Q2 Fiscal Year [FY] 2017). The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program is providing technical assistance to reduce poverty and increase food security among 3,000 beef and 2,000 dairy smallholder households in Natural Regions III, IV, and V. The program focuses on increasing production, productivity, and market linkages of beef and dairy farmers to improve their food security; incomes; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); and nutrition status. During the quarter, program activities focused on the following:  Training and technical assistance on fodder production and breed improvement through artificial insemination (AI).  Increasing access to credit for cattle farmers embarking on AI.  Marketing assistance for live cattle and dairy products.  Training and technical assistance on production and productivity enhancing good animal husbandry practices (GAHPs), business skills, gender awareness, nutrition and WASH.  Capacity building the program’s local implementing partners and farmers’ groups.  Conducting the first round of the Annual Household Survey (AHS). In all program sites, incessant rains, which caused flash flooding and waterlogging in some areas of , Gokwe South, , Lupane, Nkayi and Umzingwane districts were received up to mid- March 2017. The incessant rains curtailed some farmers’ ability to establish their food and fodder crops. In addition, weed pressure, nutrient leaching, soil erosion, and waterlogging became prevalent in most areas. High pest and disease incidences in crops due to the prevailing wet and humid conditions were reported. Incidences of fall armyworm were reported in all program areas and damage was widespread, especially on the late-planted maize crop. Huge tick infestations were reported in all areas due to the lush grass, wet, and humid conditions. Tick- borne diseases were reported in all 10 program areas with Anaplasmosis and heartwater being the two diseases commonly reported. Other disease outbreaks, namely foot rot, blackleg, and lumpy skin were also noted in most program areas. The program encouraged farmers to procure Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP) compliant pesticides to control ticks and the other diseases. Practical demonstrations on dipping, dosing, vaccinations, and disease control were conducted in all program areas. Despite remaining a problem in some areas of Hwange, Chirumhanzu, Shurugwi, Nkayi and Gokwe South districts, no new outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) were reported. Control measures taken included ring vaccinations by Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) of problem areas and restricted livestock movement.

1 Full results on all indicators will be available in the fourth quarter once the second round of the Annual Household Survey, a sample survey, is completed among randomly selected program beneficiaries. The Annual Household Survey collects data on 13 of 28 indicators monitored by the program. 2 The number of indicators will be change with the USAID/Zimbabwe Mission’s new five year Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) PMP once discussions are completed in the 3rd quarter FY2017

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Water supply for humans and cattle as well as grazing for cattle has improved in all areas because of the good rains received since the start of the rainfall season. Body condition score of all classes of cattle ranges between fair to good (3-5) across the 10 program areas because of the improved grazing quality and quantity. Despite this context, the program achieved some notable results in the review period:  Program activities benefited 1,675 households (1,910 farmers, 42 percent women) of which 1,054 (1,202 farmers) were new households, bringing the total number of rural households benefiting from program interventions to 4,647 since inception in June 2015. Beef households constituted 73 percent of the total number of beneficiaries while dairy households made up the balance of 27 percent as at the end of the review period.  Despite the incessant rains received throughout the quarter, the program, in conjunction with lead farmers, established and maintained more than 350 fodder and pasture demonstration plots by the end of the review period. Fodder and pasture crops established include velvet beans, sunn hemp, sugar graze sorghum, yellow maize for silage, and pastures (silver leaf Desmodium, Cenchrus, Stylosanthes, giant Rhodes grass and star grass).  Farmers delivered 83,164 liters of milk valued $38,830 to two MCCs (Shurugwi and Gokwe) and two processors (Dendairy and Kershelmar), which are collaborating with the program. This was 17 percent higher than 71,092 liters worth $34,609 in the previous quarter. The increase in deliveries is attributed to the abundance of nutritious grass from the rains and additional production from cows calving down. Beef-dairy farmers in Shurugwi, Gokwe South, Chirumhanzu, and Umzingwane produced 22,226 liters of milk mainly from their beef animals, which was consumed and sold locally, compared to 7,887 liters in the previous quarter.  The program facilitated 101 farmers from Lupane and Chipinge districts to sell 128 cattle worth $57,777 through auctions and abattoirs off the rangeland.  MFIs and banks collaborating with the program collectively extended input and capital loans worth $6,850 for artificial insemination and purchasing of capital equipment to 49 beneficiaries.  The program assisted more than 1,3003 farmers in preparing for AI, including identifying suitable cows or heifers; proper feeding to maintain the desired body condition, and constructing sound cattle handling facilities for both AI and general cattle management activities. During the review period, 92 cows and heifers were successfully inseminated. The drought in the previous season delayed the start of the AI breeding season to the end of January 2017 as cow condition remained sub-optimal. Cow condition is improving and more inseminations are expected in the next quarter.  During the review period the program’s subcontractor, ABS-TCM, trained 30 AI service providers. The program has trained 142 AI service providers, 56 women, since inception in June 2015.  The program continued to promote production and productivity enhancing GAPs and GAHPs, business practices, and technologies around the 130 established centers of excellence4 during the quarter under review. Results from the first round of the Annual Household Survey indicate that 4,113 farmers (43 percent women) under the program were using improved technologies

3 1,383 farmers (38 percent women) were trained on AI, of which. 4 A center of excellence is a program demonstration site where a number of practices to enhance livestock productivity, genetic herd improvements, and nutrition and WASH are exhibited with full participation of the hosting farmer and a minimum of 10 other beneficiaries who participate in learning on a regular basis. The hosting farmer contributes his herd, time, and some material resources (such as inputs) for hosting the center.

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and management practices learned from the program in running their beef and dairy enterprises. Survey results show an adoption rate of 89 percent. There was 92 percent adoption rate by dairy farmers and 88 percent among beef farmers5.  During the review period, the program trained 1,126 farmers (48 percent women) on nutrition and 1,115 farmers (47 percent women) on WASH subjects alongside livestock technical interventions at group meetings and demonstration sessions as a way of ensuring that all livestock beneficiaries are reached. Trainings and technical activities focused on establishing, nurturing and preserving food crops as well as harvesting, conserving, and storing excess food crops, vegetables, and fruits. This will ensure household food security and improved household nutrition throughout the year. Exclusive breastfeeding, timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods, improved production of small livestock to improve dietary protein intake among households, and good hygiene practices such as waste management, construction of toilets, and hand washing behaviors were also encouraged.  The solicitation process for identifying a technical partner to assist in implementing the program’s nutrition and WASH Strategy was concluded. However, none of the candidates were able to provide a plan that could reach all program areas and stay within the associated budget, nor was it possible to hire more than one organization and remain within budget. After careful budget projections the program decided it would be more financially responsible to implement nutrition and WASH components from internal resources.  The program facilitated the training of LEAD Trust and ABS-TCM finance staff on key financial management skills, which included internal controls, fixed asset management, value added tax reporting and expense controls. In addition, technical assistance was provided to Shurugwi Dairy Cooperative Society on budget planning and monitoring of costs. Accounting staff at Gokwe Dairy Cooperative Society continued to receive technical assistance on the ongoing process of implementing a computerized accounting system.  The program trained 1,035 beneficiaries (43 percent women) on environmental subjects during the review period, more than double the figure for the last quarter. Due to the heavy rains experienced in all areas and the likelihood of high incidences of diseases in both livestock and crops, soil conservation and erosion protection; PPE; safe disposal of chemicals and woodlot/orchard establishment were major training and discussion topics with beneficiary farmers.  The program monitored a random sample of 140 beneficiary households for EMMP compliance. Despite trainings offered by the program results indicate an increase in soil erosion problems and a proliferation of pests and diseases in both livestock and field crops as a result of the incessant and heavy rains. However, the rains have enabled more farmers to establish woodlots/orchards and the resultant good grass growth in the rangeland has led to a decrease in signs of overgrazing and deforestation. Almost all farmers were using pesticides, some of them incorrectly. The proliferation of the fall armyworm, which is resistant to most PERSUAP, approved pesticides, led to increased use of non-compliant materials advocated by Government and private sector extension agents, or supplied under cotton growing contracts. In addition, the resistance of blue ticks to most of the PERSUAP compliant acaricides resulted in desperate farmers turning to non-compliant products with higher toxicity profiles. The program, however, will continue to explore possible solutions such as combinations of topical and injectable acaricides.

5 FY2017 results will be finalized with the second round survey in September 2017.

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 Program efforts to promote proper and adequate waste handling facilities are bearing positive results, especially among beef farmers. The program is promoting safe disposal of plastic and human waste to minimize plastic poisoning and beef measles as these negatively impact returns from pen-fattened animals sold to meat processors.  The program dedicated the whole month of March 2017 to celebrating the successes and achievements of women and youth beneficiaries in commercial beef and dairy production under the International Women’s Day theme, Be Bold for Change. Activities included messages on promoting women and youth in household nutrition and food security, showcasing successes of women in beef and dairy production and training on farming as a family business.  The program continued to encourage women to form and participate in internal lending and savings (ISALs) as a way of mobilizing resources to increase their ownership of livestock and participation in livestock production. This has started to yield results for women program beneficiaries in Gokwe South, , and Chipinge districts.  By the end of the review period, women now occupy 50 percent of leadership positions6 in community-based organizations working with the program. The program has achieved its life of program target of 50 percent.  About 33 percent of the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s budget has been expended. No financial difficulties were experienced during the second quarter.

The program is on course to meet its objectives. This quarter, activities to link smallholder dairy farmers to formal markets will be intensified. This will employ a holistic two-pronged approach to improve on-farm productivity while establishing sustainable markets within the vicinity of the smallholder farmers. Artificial insemination activities (farmer mobilization; cow selection and registration; inseminations; and practical training of local AI service providers) will be intensified and continue until the end of May 2017 to take advantage of the improving cow condition and abundant feed from the rangeland and crop residues.

6 These are lead farmers and committee members of MCCs, feedlot groups, ISALs, input and marketing groups.

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2. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program seeks to reduce poverty and increase food security, hygiene, and nutrition status among 3,000 beef and 2,000 dairy smallholder farmers in Natural Regions III, IV, and V. The program focuses on increasing production, productivity, and market linkages of beef and dairy farmers to improve their food security, incomes, hygiene, and nutrition status. The program will accomplish this goal through the achievement of three intermediate results: 1. Increased agricultural production and productivity of targeted beef and dairy smallholder farmers through greater market linkages; access to appropriate credit and finance; investment; and adoption of GAHPs and technologies. 2. Improved hygiene and nutrition-related behaviors through training on good household nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation practices, and exclusive breastfeeding. 3. Increased capacity of local organizations to implement USAID and agricultural development programs through transferring skills; sharing best practices; and attracting new investments in private sector organizations. These efforts will entail partnering with the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development program. The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program concentrates on profitable beef and dairy production and income generation through appropriate and sustainable interventions7 that improve the livelihoods of vulnerable livestock owners. These activities will move rural families from subsistence to commercial farming and increase their net worth through investment in cattle and other on-farm productivity-enhancing assets.

Figure 38 summarizes the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s implementation approach. Interventions will sustainably raise production, productivity, and incomes from smallholder beef and dairy systems; improve hygiene practices and behaviors; increase the availability and utilization of nutritious foods; expand market access and availability of credit and finance across value chains; add value to beef and dairy products; and boost agricultural investment as well as adoption of best organizational practices by local implementers. To maximize outreach and ensure sustainability, the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program is partnering with commercial companies, NGOs, and relevant government departments. Collaboration with the government has enabled easy entry into target areas; led to the sharing of technical information and training platforms; and will enable a sustainable program exit. Developing commercial partnerships through a national network of agribusinesses strengthens farmers’ access to markets with fair prices; provides working capital and finance at realistic rates; supplies inputs efficiently; and provides extension and training to growers as an embedded cost. Partnerships focus on establishing service provision options at market rates. During the second year (FY2017) the program will continue to work on:  Identifying high potential and viable beef and dairy agribusiness hubs in targeted regions.  Ensuring competitiveness of smallholder beef and dairy sectors by improving productivity and efficiency.

7 Interventions such as herd rationalization combined with linkages to abattoirs and auction sales; use of low cost feed sources; production of fodder plans and implementing them; linkages with sources of finance and input suppliers 8 The implementation approach will be adjusted in line with the USAID/Zimbabwe Mission’s new five year CDCS PMP once discussions are completed in the coming quarter.

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 Facilitating and fostering linkages with formal and informal buyers to increase demand for smallholder beef and dairy products. Activities also aim to improve quality, increase quantity, and assure reliability of supply and logistics.  Creating more sustainable markets and harnessing new private investment in smallholder beef and dairy production by supporting innovative business models in formal and informal sectors.  Linking market players to smallholder livestock farmers in identified agribusiness hubs through creating commercial partnerships with input suppliers; expanding the availability of inputs for beef and dairy farmers; and introducing low- to no-cost interventions that improve productivity, animal health, and nutrition.  Increasing access to finance for all value chain actors to facilitate investment.  Improving overall household health and nutrition through improved dietary diversity (e.g. by incorporating livestock products) and trainings on household nutrition and proper sanitation.  Building the capacity of local businesses, producer groups, and other community institutions in partnership with the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development program to ensure adherence to USAID operational standards.  Providing demand-driven training and technical assistance to address site-specific challenges.  Identifying opportunities for beneficiaries to generate high returns with minimal resources.

Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Results Framework Summary

GOAL: SUSTAINABLY REDUCE POVERTY AND IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION FOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN ZIMBABWE REDUCE POVERTY AND IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

Increased organizational capacity of Increased agricultural production, Improved nutrition and hygiene local implementing organizations productivity, and incomes practices and behaviors

Adoption of best Adoption of GAPs and Access to finance, Improved hygiene Access to and utilization of organizational practices GAHPs credit, and behaviors nutritious foods and investment exclusive breastfeeding

Partnerships Standards BDS Environment Market linkages Gender

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3. ACTIVITIES

Program activities during the quarter focused on increasing access to credit for livestock farmers embarking on AI; marketing assistance for live cattle and dairy products; fodder production and breed improvement through AI; training and technical assistance on production and productivity enhancing GAHPs, business skills, WASH and nutrition; capacity building the program’s local implementing partners and farmers’ groups; and conducting the first Annual Household Survey. All program areas have received incessant rains during the quarter under review. As a result, some low lying areas in Chipinge, Gokwe South, Lupane, Hwange, Nkayi, and Umzingwane experienced incidences of flash flooding and waterlogging. In some areas of Lupane, Nkayi, Shurugwi, and Umzingwane districts, roads and bridges were washed away limiting movement of program personnel to implement activities. Table 3.1 below summarizes the cumulative rainfall in program focus areas up to the end of March 2017. Table 3.1: Total Rainfall and Fodder Demo Plot Status in Program Areas, as at March 31, 2017 Rainfall Received by Cumulative Area Month (mm) since Oct Rangeland & Fodder Crop Status Jan Feb Mar 2016 (mm) Midlands Almost all fodder crops suffered from heavy leaching of nutrients. The few Shurugwi that were fertilized are doing well. Most are ready for harvesting and ensiling Wards 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 120 386 48 730 while some have already been harvested. Most of the harvesting will be done 8, 11, 12, 13, 20, in the next quarter. Ward 7 farmers harvested 5 tons of silage and Ward 8, 5 and 23 tons as well. Ensiling is in progress and will be finished by mid-May 2017. Sweet sorghum, sun hemp, and velvet bean crops are ready for harvesting and some have been already harvested. Expected fodder yield is reduced due Kwekwe Ward 6 602 143 53 1,056 to leaching. Rangeland condition is good due to the above normal rains received. Hay cutting is underway. Velvet beans (Flowering stage) Demo Plots in Irisvale and Claremont are doing well and are expected to be harvested in the next quarter. Sorghum is Umzingwane Wards 241 206 253 969 at maturing stage and will make silage in the next quarter. Rangeland 5,6,7,13,18 condition is good due to the above normal rains received. Hay cutting is underway. Gokwe South All crops, sweet sorghum, sun hemp, and velvet bean were badly affected by Wards 13,15,16, and 276 107 76 722 leaching. Pasture seed banks were established. Expected fodder yield is 19 reduced due to leaching. Hay cutting is underway. Velvet bean is flowering though it has been affected by excessive leaching of nutrients, and most maize silage crops are near harvest stage. Excessive rains Chirumhanzu Wards 180 154 262 1,075 leached out nutrients from the maize silage crop. Super graze crop in Ward 1, 7,11 7b was affected by leaching and is stunted. Only three farmers out of seven in the area will make silage. Velvet bean still at vegetative stage in all wards. Sweet sorghum in Ward 7 is ready for harvesting. In Ward 14, yellow maize and sweet sorghum did not Wards 6, 7, 179 153 11 473 do well. Growth was hampered by heavy rains which resulted in waterlogging 8, and 9 and leaching. Later planted velvet bean crops still require effective rain once or twice more to reach full maturity. The condition of the rangeland is good. Manicaland The condition of the rangeland is good particularly in ward 4. The rangeland status for wards 1 and 3 is not very good but it is currently adequately Chipinge – 180 60 38 524 sustaining the herd. Grasses have started drying after shedding seed. Sunn Tanganda/Mutema hemp and velvet bean fodder crops are now at reproductive stage and doing very well. The rangeland around Chibuwe area is in good condition. Fallow fields and Chipinge –Chibuwe 230 115 114 650 rangelands are fully covered with good quality palatable grasses. Fodder is also performing well. Farmers grew sunn hemp, velvet bean and forage

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Table 3.1: Total Rainfall and Fodder Demo Plot Status in Program Areas, as at March 31, 2017 Rainfall Received by Cumulative Area Month (mm) since Oct Rangeland & Fodder Crop Status Jan Feb Mar 2016 (mm) sorghum. The rangeland is in good condition in all the wards around Checheche except for wards 26 and 27 where overstocking and overgrazing has caused the disappearance of nutritious grass which have been replaced by less palatable Chipinge - broad leaved weeds. In Matikwa and several other wards, an indigofera legume Chisumbanje 297 133 122 772 has taken advantage of the overgrazed conditions and invaded the rangeland. /Checheche The legume has caused 15 cattle to bloat and die because of the absence of grass roughage. Fodder crops are growing well and have now reached reproductive stage. Farmers grew velvet bean and sunn hemp. Velvet bean is the most prevalent crop across all wards and is at vegetative Nkayi Wards stage, Harvesting is already taking place for the early planted crop, and to 5,17,18,20,21 and 305 94 84 642 date 250 kilograms of fodder herbage has been baled. Rangeland is in good 27 condition. Lupane The fodder crop is at varying stages i.e. vegetative, flowering and pod setting Wards 14, 4, 8 and 343 322 55 920 depending on planting date. The rangeland grass is still in good condition. No 27 sign of overgrazing as yet. Hwange The rangeland is in good condition due to above normal rains that were Wards 2, 4, 11and 267 131 24 606.3 received resulting in prolific vegetative growth. The fodder crops are also 17 good, with excellent vegetative growth. Source: Met Department & AGRITEX

The incessant rains curtailed some farmers’ ability to establish their food and fodder crops. In addition, weed pressure, nutrient leaching, soil erosion, and waterlogging became prevalent in most areas affecting fodder and food crops. As a result of this pressure, many farmers failed to adequately weed their food crops, and many fodder crops were either planted very late, or were swamped by weeds. Those farmers who dry planted their fodder crops, or established them early, will have large quantities of fodder to preserve for the dry season, while later planted crops will have limited herbage available, unless more rain is received in the next quarter to keep them going. However, all crops are likely to set adequate seed for next season, and beneficiary farmers should also have excess seed to sell to other farmers.

The rains received have improved the rangeland condition and the availability of drinking water for both humans and livestock in all program areas. The sections below describe the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program activities in seven categories of results measured against one gender-specific, 11 Feed the Future, and 17 custom indicators.  Beneficiaries: Number, gender balance, geographical spread, and types of support received.  Sales: Amount of new money earned by beneficiaries, measured by sales of all agricultural products.  Gross margin and net income: Profitability and net earnings from beef and dairy activities.  Productivity: Direct interventions resulting in increased production and net returns from beef and dairy production.  Nutrition and hygiene: Interventions targeted for behavior change in nutrition, and WASH activities.  Business development and market access: Interventions targeted at developing the organizational capacity of farmer groups; improving access to finance and credit; developing business skills among beneficiary farmers and collaborating partners; and strengthening market linkages and promoting farmer led extension systems.

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 Organizational capacity development: Support to local partners working with the program to enhance their effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability in implementing development programs. An explanation of the program’s environment and gender activities follows in their respective sections.

3.1 BENEFICIARIES

EG. 3-1 Number of households benefiting directly from USG assistance under FTF

During the quarter under review program activities benefited 1,675 households (1,910 farmers) (See Table 3.1.3) of which 1,054 (1,202 farmers) were new households, bringing the total number of rural households benefiting from program interventions to 4,647 since inception in June 2015. Table 3.1.1: Geographical Distribution of Households, Q2 FY2017

Value Natural FY2016 + Q1 FY 2017 Q2 FY2017 Cumulative to date District Chain Region Female Male Total Female Male Total Female Male Total Chipinge V 370 558 928 78 123 201 448 681 1,129 Chirumhanzu III 92 116 208 34 56 90 126 172 298 Gokwe South III 91 83 174 8 25 33 99 108 207 Gweru III & IV 68 24 92 5 17 22 73 41 114 Communal Hwange IV 76 67 143 20 19 39 96 86 182 Beef Kwekwe III 89 130 219 20 25 45 109 155 264 Lupane IV 82 120 202 18 19 37 100 139 239 Nkayi IV 170 175 345 41 41 82 211 216 427 Shurugwi III 152 202 354 5 13 18 157 215 372 Umzingwane IV 63 43 106 36 34 70 99 77 176 Sub-total 1,253 1,518 2,771 265 372 637 1,518 1,890 3,408 Chipinge V 6 17 23 1 0 1 7 17 24 Chirumhanzu III 115 118 233 14 23 37 129 141 270 Gokwe South III 134 180 314 134 171 305 268 351 619 Communal Gweru III & IV 7 4 11 1 3 4 8 7 15 Dairy Kwekwe III 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 Nkayi IV 0 0 0 1 3 4 1 3 4 Shurugwi III 36 58 94 5 7 12 41 65 106 Umzingwane IV 24 27 51 5 3 8 29 30 59 Sub-total 322 407 729 161 210 371 483 617 1,100 Chipinge V 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 Chirumhanzu III 15 21 36 5 5 10 20 26 46 Gokwe South III 11 24 35 12 20 32 23 44 67 SSC Dairy Nkayi IV 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 Shurugwi III 2 4 6 0 1 1 2 5 7 Umzingwane IV 4 8 12 2 1 3 6 9 15 Sub-total 35 58 93 19 27 46 54 85 139 Grand Total 1,610 1,983 3,593 445 609 1,054 2,055 2,592 4,647 Source: CIRIS Cumulatively, beef households constitute 73 percent of the total number of beneficiaries while dairy households make up the balance of 27 percent. Program assistance included linkages with buyers of beef

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 9 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 and dairy products and providers of credit and inputs; training and technical assistance on production and productivity enhancing GAHPs; business skills; WASH; and nutrition. In addition, farmers also received technical assistance and training9 on environmental issues covering the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE); safe use and disposal of pesticides; preferential use of PERSUAP-complaint chemicals; soil conservation; woodlot/orchard establishment; pollution and climate change.

Table 3.1.2: New Beneficiary Households Variance, Q2 FY2017 Value Chain FY2017 Target Achievement Variance Beef 1,550 1,173 76% Dairy 700 591 84% Total 2,250 1,764 78% Source: CIRIS The program has achieved 78 percent of its overall FY2017 target (See Table 3.1.2). The program has been very active in fostering viable markets for beef farmers and implemented strategies that increase milk production and productivity. In addition, efforts to identify more formal markets for smallholder dairy products were intensified. The program provided training and technical assistance to 1,910 farmers (42 percent women) (See Table 3.1.3) during the review period. Eighty-eight farmers (39 beef and 49 dairy) were linked to formal buyers. Among the formal buyers are abattoirs, milk processors, and milk collection centers. The program also facilitated 48 farmers (12 women) to access credit for artificial insemination of 57 animals (46 beef and 11 dairy) from Lion Finance. Table 3.1.3: Program Interventions, Q2 FY2017 Beef Farmers Dairy Farmers Combined Unique Farmers Activities Females Males Total Females Males Total Females Males Total Trainings and TA 545 755 1,300 374 542 916 810 1,100 1,910 Farmers receiving 4 10 14 10 44 12 37 49 credit 34 Farmers linked to 6 33 39 14 49 20 68 88 buyers 35 Source: CIRIS and the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program LD15 Estimated number and percentage of FTF beneficiaries holding 5 hectares or less of arable land or equivalent units of livestock (smallholders) From the first round of the Annual Household Survey, the proportion of beneficiaries with 10 cattle or less for beef beneficiaries and two or less lactating cows for dairy beneficiaries was 82 percent against an FY2017 target of 85 percent. For this indicator, the lower the proportion of smallholder farmers achieved the better10.

As beneficiaries participate in the program, the percentage of smallholder farmers will significantly decline, as herd sizes are expected to increase beyond 10 cattle and two milking cows for beef and dairy farmers, respectively. The program’s interventions involving pen fattening, direct sales off the rangeland and herd rationalization (increasing the proportion of female animals in the herd) all aim at generating resources for reinvesting in herd growth and productivity.

9 Training refers to sessions where five or more farmers are taught technical concepts simultaneously in a group. Training can be conducted at one of the farmers’ farms or at place convenient for the farmers. Technical assistance refers to sessions where program technicians assist a maximum of four farmers or less simultaneously usually on their farms. 10 The actual proportion of smallholders for FY2017 will be finalized through the second round of the Annual Household Survey to be conducted on the same sample of randomly selected beneficiaries in the fourth quarter.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 10 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Across all focus areas, the program continued to encourage beneficiaries to rationalize their herds Text Box 3.1: Farmers use proceeds from pen fattening and direct marketing off the rangeland to through a deliberate selling-off of mature male improve their herds animals (steers, oxen, and bulls) and replace these with breeding female animals (cows and heifers). Nine Chipinge farmers who participated in the December 2016 pen fattening exercise facilitated by the program More female animals in the herd will set the right invested a total of $6,370 of feedlot proceeds in 13 foundation for organic growth in herd sizes. Brahman cross heifers; two Mashona heifers; one Brahman first calver and one red Brahman bull, after pen feeding Farmers were also encouraged to rationalize their and selling unproductive members of their herds to fund herds through selling off their old animals direct the purchases. from the rangeland taking advantage of the In Shurugwi, Christian Jani, a member of the Gwanza improved cattle condition. Beneficiary farmers in feedlot group used feedlot proceeds to acquire two Chipinge and Shurugwi reinvested more than heifers in March 2017. $8,000 worth of proceeds from the pen fattening period in December 2016 to improve their herds. (See Text Box 3.1). 3.2 INCREMENTAL SALES

Sustainable commercialization of smallholder farmers occurs when markets are available and farmers can develop the confidence to transact and make profitable sales. The program has continued to focus on expanding market access for beef and dairy products from smallholder “The increased income from the direct sale to the abattoir farmers by facilitating value chain relationships of my two cull oxen motivated me to consider buying two between private sector players and farmers. improved breed heifers,” said Jani. However, as at the end of the review period, only 24 percent of the 1,239 dairy beneficiaries are selling at least 80 percent of their milk to formal markets in MCCs, Dendairy, and Kershelmar against a target of 60 percent for FY2017. The principal reason for this discrepancy is the inability of most MCCs to provide a sustainable accessible market for dairy farmers. Interventions in this quarter included:  Facilitating linkages between beef farmers in all areas with buyers and abattoirs (Montana Carswell Meats, Heads and Hooves, Koala Park, Sabie Meats, and CC Sales). Exploring possibilities of partnering with small- to medium-sized milk processors to absorb output from Umzingwane and Chirumhanzu. Engagement meetings continued with Mhofu Mukaka, a milk processor based in Featherstone. New engagements were made with farmer Lovemore Ncube in Umzingwane who is planning to set up a milk bulking service with minimal processing for farmers in the Irisvale area. The low production volumes and lack of cold chains remain the greatest challenges. The program will continue to explore other models, particularly models that bring the processor closer to the farmers.  Facilitating resumption of cattle auction sales in .  Capacity building of Shurugwi and Gokwe MCCs to improve their viability continued. 3.2.1 Milk and Dairy Products Farmers delivered 83,164 liters of milk valued at $38,830 to two MCCs (Shurugwi and Gokwe) and two processors (Dendairy and Kershelmar), which are collaborating with the program. This was 17 percent higher than 71,092 liters worth $34,609 in the previous quarter (See Table 3.2.1). The increase in milk

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 11 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 deliveries is attributed to the abundance of nutritious grass from the rains and additional production from cows calving down. Table 3.2.1: Milk Sales from Program Focus Areas, Q2 FY2017 October-December January – March 2017 2016 Buyer Quantity (l) Value ($) Quantity (l) Value ($) i) Beef – Dairy production Gokwe – non MCC (Sengwa) 0 0 1,860 1,860 Farm gate, vending Shurugwi – non MCC 429 254 2,776 1,272 Farm gate, vending Chirumhanzu – non MCC 6,795 2,027 16,935 4,262 Farm gate, vending Umzingwane – non MCC 663 663 635 635 Farm gate, vending Kwekwe-non 0 0 20 27 Farm gate, vending MCC(Ngondoma) Total 7,887 $2,944 22,226 8,056 ii) Raw milk delivered Gokwe MCC 26,300 12,751 27,667 11,561 MCC Shurugwi MCC 2,791 1,116 1,475 590 MCC Umzingwane 42,001 20,742 54,022 26,679 Kershelmar, Dendairy Total 71,092 34,609 83,164 38,830 iii) Raw milk sales Gokwe MCC 6,686 3,321 12,923 6,973 Local, Dendairy Non-Gokwe MCC (Sengwa) 0 0 372 372 Farm gate, vending Shurugwi MCC 283 260 166 166 Local Umzingwane MCC 0 0 0 0 Shurugwi non-MCC 180 136 Kwekwe non MCC 5 5 Farm gate, vending Total 7,149 3,717 13,466 7,516 iv) Sour milk sales Gokwe MCC 5,748 1,379 5,142 7,477 Local Gokwe Non MCC (Sengwa) 0 0 Local, Chachacha, Shurugwi MCC 2,100 $2,100 Shurugwi town Shurugwi Non MCC 148 148 564 564 Local Umzingwane Non MCC 663 663 635 635 Local Chirumhanzu 6,795 2,027 16,935 4,262 Local Kwekwe Non MCC 15 23 Local Total 15,454 6,317 23,291 12,961 v) Cultured milk Gokwe MCC 4,131 3,573 4,396 3,835 Local Local, Chachacha, Shurugwi MCC 0 0 1,261 1,261 Shurugwi Town Umzingwane 0 0 Total 4,131 3,573 5,657 5,096 vi) Yogurt Gokwe MCC 0 0 0 0 Shurugwi MCC 30 119 Total 30 119 0 0 vii) Whey Gokwe MCC 6,650 1,330 4,443 1,388 Local Total 6,650 1,330 4,443 1,388 Source: Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 12 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

The program continues to expand the beef-dairy concept and to date 53 beef farmers in the program focus areas of Chirumhanzu, Shurugwi, Gokwe South, and Umzingwane produced 22,226 liters of milk worth $8,058 mainly from their beef herds for the local markets (See Table 3.2.1). The program is providing training and technical assistance to these farmers to increase the short and medium term productivity of their herds through adopting GAHPs such as growing adequate fodder; proper feeding; using low-cost feed formulations; and using AI to improve the dairy genetics of their herds. In Umzingwane, the MCC remained closed due to debts and lack of working capital to purchase milk and meet running costs - a result of poor governance and lack of accountability. The largest creditors are farmers. The milk collection center owes 11 farmers $2,625 for 5,250 liters of milk delivered since June 2016. This has left communal farmers in Umzingwane with no formal market to deliver their milk. The farmers are marketing their milk at farm gate as fresh and natural sour milk. In Shurugwi milk collections at the Tongogara MCC decreased by 47 percent from 2,791 liters in the last quarter to 1,475 liters in the current quarter. The center temporarily stopped receiving milk from producers in mid-January 2017 after it had run out of packaging materials. Farmers delivered milk to the center only twice per week in January 2017. This was also attributed to poor governance and accountability issues. The center resumed operations in February 2017. The program provided the association with technical assistance on drawing up financial statements and their interpretation to determine viability of the business. The financials indicate that the MCC is not performing well mainly due to poor business planning, governance, and accountability on the part of leadership. A corrective plan was mapped out (see Section 3.6.3) for implementation. 3.2.2 Beef Product Sales Local auctions and direct sales off the rangeland to abattoirs and to middlemen accounted for most of the beef animal sales in program focus areas during the quarter. The continued presence of FMD in some wards of Nkayi, Hwange, and Gokwe South depressed sales as cattle movement within and around districts was restricted. In addition, the incessant rains made some areas inaccessible to buyers and the continued cash shortages restricted participation of both buyers and farmers at auctions. During the review period, 101 beneficiary farmers in Lupane and Chipinge districts sold 128 cattle worth $57,777 through auctions and abattoirs collaborating with the program (See Table 3.2.2.1). The average price of $451 per animal is significantly higher than the prices offered by the middlemen, which range from $200 to $300. Buyers at CC Sales organized auctions in Lupane bought 90 of the cattle from 79 farmers, while the rest were sold directly to abattoirs. Twenty beneficiary farmers from sold 30 cattle off the rangeland to Sabie Meats in Chiredzi, province for $14,781. Two beneficiary farmers from sold eight animals to Circle “Y” Abattoir in for a value of $4,446. Table 3.2.2.1 Program Monitored Cattle Sales Through Auctions and Abattoirs, Q2 FY2017 Lupane - Mlonyeni CC Auction sales Number Number of Number of Lowest Average Highest Total Gross Month of animals farmers buyers price($) price($) price($) income($) sold Jan 2017 44 41 3 350 410 750 18,040 Feb 2017 17 14 2 380 420 650 7,140 Mar 2017 13 11 2 420 450 700 5,850 Total / 74 66 3 350 419 750 31,030 Average Lupane - Tshongokwe Auction sales Number Number of Number of Lowest Average Highest Total Gross Month of animals farmers buyers price($) price($) price($) income($) sold

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 13 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Jan 2017 Feb 2017 16 13 2 450 470 630 7,520 Mar 2017 Total / 16 13 2 450 470 630 7,520 Average Lupane – Direct sales Number Number of Number of Lowest Average Highest Total Gross Month of animals farmers buyers price($) price($) price($) income($) sold Mar 2017 8 2 1 470 556 887 4,446 Chipinge – Direct sales Number Number of Number of Lowest Average Highest Total Gross Month of animals farmers buyers price($) price($) price($) income($) sold March 2017 30 20 1 400 493 827 14,781

Grand Total / 128 101 350 451 887 57,777 Average Source CC Sales & Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program There was a decline in numbers sold at Lupane auction sales as most farmers withheld their cattle as prices decreased. Also, the cash crisis compounded the situation as farmers preferred to be paid in cash while buyers could only pay by bank transfers. Most smallholder farmers do not have bank accounts making the bank transfer option less applicable. Even the mobile money system does not work as most rural agencies could not provide the cash. The cash challenge is threatening to derail the auctions as buyers are failing to get sufficient cash to conduct a sale. Table 3.2.2.2: Cattle Sales from Auctions in Nkayi, Q2 FY2017 Month 2016 2017 # # Value Gross # # Value Gross return Farmers Cattle ($) return / Farmers Cattle ($) / animal animal January 30 38 13,640 359 011 0 0 0

February 134 172 66,100 384 87 104 46,225 444 March 110 125 50,705 405 58 71 29,610 417 Total / 335 130,445 175 75,835 Average Source: Nkayi RDC & Inala Auctions No auctions were held in Nkayi district in January 2017 as the DVS was conducting FMD vaccinations (Table 3.2.2.2). Public auctions were opened in February 2017, having been suspended in October 2016 in some parts of the district due to the outbreak of FMD. There was a drop in the number of animals sold in March 2017 as a result of decreased beef prices and cash shortages. The live mass prices during the quarter ranged between $0.75 to $0.90 per kilogram and this depended on the farmer’s negotiation skills and condition of the animal. In the Midlands program areas, incessant rains, which tailed off in mid-March 2017 interfered with formalized sales off the rangeland as roads and bridges were damaged or washed away. As a result,

11 FMD Vaccinations in the district

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 14 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 buyers feared that trucks ferrying the cattle would get stuck in the muddy roads. Furthermore, seasonally low prices for beef markets in the summer combined with plentiful feed in the rangeland made farmers reluctant to commit to selling cattle. In Umzingwane, anecdotal information from DLPD and DVS indicate that the whole district sold 2,039 cattle worth $504,430 to Bulawayo abattoirs during the review period. The program was unable to organize direct sales for beneficiaries as farmers were reluctant to sell as prices dropped in March 2017 when the exercise was underway. In Hwange district, no cattle sales were recorded as the effort to hold auction sales at Kasase and Inyatuwe sale pens failed due to the ongoing cash shortage. The two sale pens are in a zone unaffected by the FMD outbreak in the district during June 2016. 3.3 PRODUCTIVITY

The program carried out productivity enhancing activities through training and technical assistance aimed at improving reproductive efficiency and general cattle performance; improved marketing; accessing credit from MFIs; and GAHPs related to herd health, animal nutrition, herd rationalization, and breeding. Other topics covered included fodder production, establishment of demonstration plots and fodder trees. Trainings and technical assistance were through farmer managed demonstrations at centers of excellence focusing on the GAHPs and technologies, which increase production and productivity of both smallholder farmer beef and dairy herds. Two FTF indicators, summarized below, monitor increases in productivity. In addition, some of the demonstrated technologies and interventions undertaken to increase productivity during the review period are described in detail under Sections 3.3.1; 3.3.2; and 3.3.3 below. EG.3.2-1 Number of individuals who have received USG-supported short term agricultural sector productivity or food security training

During the review period 1,20212 smallholder livestock farmers received short term, specialized training and technical assistance on various livestock production related topics compared to 1,100 in the previous period. Specific topics covered were fodder production; animal health; supplementary feeding; pen fattening; AI and animal breeding; quality control; beef and dairy marketing and animal handling facilities. Table 3.3.1: Beef Trainings in Program Focus Areas, Q2 FY2017 October - December, 2016 January – March 2017 District F M Total % Women F M Total % Women Chipinge 98 95 193 51 158 234 392 40 Chirumhanzu 86 103 189 46 97 126 223 43 Gokwe South 7 20 27 26 21 55 76 28

12 These are unique beneficiaries trained in beef and dairy. 1,300 farmers were trained in beef topics and 916 on dairy topics. Dairy trainings were not restricted to dairy farmers only and neither were beef trainings restricted to beef farmers only. Typically the majority of the livestock beneficiaries own a dual purpose animal hence our beef-dairy concept. There was an overlap in which dairy trainings were extended to willing beef farmers as the latter may be converted into dairy farmers as long as they are able to milk their beef cows and sell milk. Similarly, there were dairy farmers who attended beef trainings as the male offspring from their dairy enterprises are raised for beef. Thus, the 1,300 farmers who received beef training included dairy farmers and the 916 farmers who received dairy training included beef farmers. Overall, the unique number (without multiple counting) of beef and dairy farmers trained was 1,202. The difference between 1,202 and 2,216 gives an indicative number of farmers who received both beef and dairy training. This number grew from 216 in the previous quarter to 1,014 in the current quarter, a sign that farmers are embracing the beef-dairy concept (see next foot note)

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 15 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Gweru 21 20 41 51 19 28 47 40 Hwange 41 31 72 57 35 37 72 49 Kwekwe 38 27 65 58 57 61 118 48 Lupane 20 36 56 36 35 53 88 40 Nkayi 50 61 111 45 66 75 141 47 Shurugwi 24 58 82 29 17 45 62 27 Umzingwane 38 48 86 44 40 41 81 49 Grand total 423 499 922 46 545 755 1,300 42 Source: CIRIS

A total of 1,300 farmers (42 percent women) received training and technical assistance on beef production from the program during the review period compared to 922 farmers in the previous quarter (See Table 3.3.1), a 41 percent increase. All areas recorded increases in the number of farmers participating in beef related trainings except for Hwange and Umzingwane, which remained static. Shurugwi recorded a 24 percent drop mainly due to inaccessibility of most areas as a result of damage to roads and bridges by the rains. Chipinge district had the largest number of farmers trained once again. However, Chirumhanzu district had the highest number of farmers trained per field officer. Chirumhanzu, an earmarked dairy area by the program, scored high because farmers are adopting the beef-dairy concept13. Practical and theoretical trainings on appropriate GAHPs were in line with the beef production calendar (See Annex 5) focusing on activities necessary for successful beef production during the summer season. Table 3.3.2 breaks down the number of farmers who received training and technical assistance on different beef related topics during the review period. Table 3.3.2: Beef Trainings by Subject, Q2 FY2017 October - December, January- March, 2017 2016 % % Subject Female Male Total Women Female Male Total Women Animal Breeding 98 110 208 47 60 116 176 34 Animal Health 204 234 438 47 241 330 571 42 Artificial Insemination 74 77 151 49 223 404 627 36 Theory/Practical Cattle and Meat Grading 109 171 280 39 39 68 107 36 Fodder Production 189 185 374 51 266 302 568 47 Husbandry Practices 191 204 395 48 277 392 669 41 Marketing 103 194 297 35 171 287 458 37 Pen Fattening 224 355 579 39 63 116 179 35 Disease Prevention and - - - - 189 305 494 38 Control Disease Treatment - - - - 62 115 177 35 Feed Formulation - - - - 22 26 48 46

13 The program is encouraging milk production from beef herds not only to meet household nutritional needs, but also to provide a potential source of income as surpluses are sold at first into local markets and eventually into the formal markets through program facilitated market linkages. Through proper feeding and good animal husbandry practices, cows can produce more milk than current levels. The process will also assist the beef farmers in transitioning into dairy farming, “a soft landing” as this requires less capital investment. Dairy stock (*see previous comment*) is introduced into the herds through AI

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 16 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Handling Facilities - - - - 146 275 421 35 Heat Synchronization - - - - 83 153 236 35 Other14 100 122 222 45 42 51 93 45 Source: CIRIS The summer season marks the breeding season of cattle as their condition is optimal due to abundant grazing in the rangeland. One of the main training thrusts was on AI and more than 1,300 farmers were trained on this topic alone in support of the activities of ABS-TCM. Trainings and technical assistance on breed improvement were carried out and AI technology access was facilitated for beneficiary farmers. Thirty AI service providers were trained during the quarter across all program areas and have been assisting with inseminations. AI trainings also included focus on herd rationalization for higher herd productivity as well as reinvestment of proceeds from cattle sales into cows or heifers. All program areas experienced incessant rains during the review period, which exacerbated animal health issues from high pest populations and challenges, including waterborne diseases and internal parasites. The program trained 571 farmers, 42 percent women, in animal health related subjects in preparation for such eventualities. Farmers were trained on disease identification, prevention, control, and treatment. Major diseases prevalent during the review period included but were not limited to heartwater, blackleg, foot rot and lumpy skin. Vaccinations and timely treatment with oxytetracyclines and antimicrobials was emphasized.

Trainings were done on handling facilities including construction of temporary overnight enclosures to alleviate the challenge of cattle sleeping in muddy pens. Technical trainings promoted construction of good handling facilities for use during such activities as spraying for tick control, deworming, castration, dehorning and AI. A total of 458 farmers (37 percent women) across all program areas received training on beef marketing. Aspects covered market intelligence; use of market information for selling to advantage; live grading of animals; and estimation of weights and value utilizing the weigh belt. The thrust was to take advantage of the improved cattle condition gained from the rangeland; prepare farmers for the upcoming direct sales market window and realign farmers’ expectations and business decisions in relation to current market conditions. The trainings were integrated with herd rationalization guidance to assist farmers to make correct hold, cull, and replace decisions for improved productivity and profitability. During the review period, 916 farmers, 41 percent women, received training and technical assistance on dairy related subjects from the program (See Table 3.3.3) compared to 394 farmers in the previous quarter. Sixty-nine percent of the trained farmers were from Chirumhanzu and Gokwe South districts the main dairy focus areas. Table 3.3.3: Dairy Training by District, Q2 FY2017 October - December 2016 January – March 2017 District Female Male Total % Female Female Male Total % Female Chipinge 14 12 26 54 28 45 73 38 Chirumhanzu 56 58 114 49 54 84 138 39 Gokwe South 44 55 99 44 206 286 492 42 Gweru 7 5 12 58 5 11 16 31 Kwekwe 6 4 10 60 9 4 13 69 Lupane 6 7 13 46 25 42 67 37 Nkayi 1 0 1 100 1 3 4 25

14 Includes calf management , drought mitigation strategies, feed post mortem, supplementary feeding, quality control, crush pens, calibration, in breeding, and herd rationalization.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 17 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Table 3.3.3: Dairy Training by District, Q2 FY2017 October - December 2016 January – March 2017 District Female Male Total % Female Female Male Total % Female Shurugwi 14 44 58 24 16 33 49 33 Umzingwane 33 28 61 54 30 34 64 47 Grand total 181 213 394 46 374 542 916 41 Source: CIRIS Dairy trainings and technical assistance aim at increasing milk yields from the baseline figure of 2.61 liters per cow per day to above 12 liters; normalize the lactation periods to around 300 days; reduce the calving intervals to 12-13 months, and improve the quality of milk to enable selling into formal markets. Table 3.3.4 breaks down the number of farmers who received training and technical assistance on different dairy related topics during the review period. Table 3.3.4: Dairy Training by Subject, Q2 FY2017 October – December, 2016 January – March 2017 Subject Female Male Total % Female Female Male Total % Female Animal Health 90 95 185 49 143 188 331 43 Artificial Insemination 84 108 192 44 305 451 756 40 Theory/Practical Calf Management 5 9 14 36 90 136 226 40 Drought Mitigation 2 5 7 29 0 0 0 0 Strategies Feed Formulation 10 30 40 25 6 8 14 43 Fodder Production 101 129 230 44 196 271 467 42 Handling Facilities 39 50 89 44 123 155 278 44 Heifer Procurement 5 18 23 22 0 0 0 0 Husbandry Practices 89 104 193 46 121 170 291 42 Marketing 67 55 122 55 226 301 527 43 Quality Control 53 80 133 40 110 124 234 47 Supplementary Feeding 12 34 46 26 0 0 0 0 Urea Treatment of Stover 5 5 10 50 0 0 0 0 Disease Prevention and - - - - 66 109 175 38 Control Disease Treatment - - - - 59 92 151 39 Heat Synchronisation - - - - 195 302 497 39 Other15 - - - - 51 71 122 42 Source: CIRIS

Quality control ensures farmers deliver hygienic milk to the market. Good quality milk is a prerequisite for delivering to formal markets. The program trained 234 farmers from Gokwe South, Chirumhanzu, and Umzingwane districts on quality enhancing practices in milk production including hand-milking procedures; udder cleaning; treatment of mastitis; use of milking sheds; withdrawal periods after using antibiotics; and general farm cleanliness. EG.3.2-17 Number of farmers and others who have applied improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance The program continued to promote production and productivity enhancing GAPs and GAHPs, business practices and technologies around the 130 established centers of excellence during the quarter under review. By the end of the review period, 359 fodder and pasture demonstrations had been setup in

15 Bull examination, hay cutting, dairy herbicide use, lactating herd management, crush pens, in breeding control, pastures

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 18 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 conjunction with lead farmers across all the program areas. The demonstrations allow first-hand and hands on learning on fodder production by farmers, improving uptake of GAPs and GAHPs. Results from the first round of the Annual Household Survey conducted during the quarter indicate that 4,113 beneficiaries, 43 percent women, had applied improved technologies and management practices to their beef and dairy enterprises. Survey results show an adoption rate of 89 percent. There was 92 percent adoption rate by dairy farmers and 88 percent among beef farmers. FY2017 results will be finalized with second round survey in September 2017. The use of lead farmer herds and plots as demonstration sites (centers of excellence) that are well dispersed within communities also increases uptake of technologies within the vicinity of each lead farmer. The centers of excellence also provide a platform for agribusinesses (service providers, input suppliers, financiers, and buyers) to meet with smallholder livestock farmers to build business relations. The program has continued to focus on low to no-cost but effective technologies that increase the farmers’ production and productivity and preserve the value of their cattle. Some of the demonstrated technologies and interventions undertaken to increase productivity in the beef and dairy sectors during the review period are described in detail under sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2, and 3.3.3 below. 3.3.1 Beef Low-cost maintenance feeding In addition to on-farm fodder production and sourcing of other locally available cattle feeds such as preserved grass harvested from fallow fields, Chipinge farmers also have an option to collect sugarcane trash and grass from Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA)/Rating Middle Sabi. The estate’s manager is prepared to assist farmers again this season. Ward 3 farmers were trained on the importance of supplementary feeding and will join other wards in collecting the waste once sugarcane harvesting starts in May 2017. Ward 26 farmers, who have very limited grazing available, have been advised to immediately start collecting and preserving as much grass as possible from ARDA/Macdom Chisumbanje sugar estate to supplement their cattle and eliminate the problem of bloat caused by excessive feeding on legumes only. Farmers have also adopted dosing as a strategy to reduce the internal parasite burden on cattle. Farmers across all the operational areas of Chipinge are now harvesting grass from their fields and preserving it for cattle supplementary feeding during the dry season. Pen fattening/feedlot technology Eight farmers from Pepukai-Kondo Cattle Producer Group in Ward 16, Chipinge district accessed subsidized stock feeds from International Rescue Committee (IRC) to pen fatten 10 cattle which they sold to Sabie Meats together with other farmers who sold their cattle off the rangeland. The cattle responded well to the commercial feed and farmers were happy with the incomes they received. A farmer exchange visit was arranged in conjunction with DLPD for 23 Chipinge farmers, 52 percent women, from eight villages in wards 16 and 20 to the Kondo feedlot project. The purpose was to promote cattle marketing information exchange. The exchange visit served as an eye opener for the farmers. Visiting farmers learned that since program inception, Pepukai-Kondo farmers have marketed 55 cattle through feedlots and sold more than 200 cattle off the rangeland to abattoirs. The group’s success story endorsed the benefits of direct marketing approaches and pen fattening as advised by the program and DLPD. Lessons on the importance of investing in AI and purchasing better breeds were validated by testimonies from the area’s cattle marketing chairperson Ledson Mubonesi, who had his own cow inseminated and also purchased a Brahman cross heifer after selling a young ox for $512 to Sabie Meats. Feedlot chairperson Angeline Garwe, who used feedlot proceeds to purchase two Brahman

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 19 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 cross heifers, is another good example. “Thank you for developing Pepukai-Kondo feedlot group, and for opening our eyes,” said village head Mbeure July who was part of the group. “We did not know that livestock commercialization through feedlots can be conducted successfully by smallholder farmers like us.” Farmers participating in feedlots have re-invested the proceeds in replacing the cull animals with breeding heifers or cows and improving their livelihoods (see Text box 3.1 and Text box 3.5.2), Breeding (Beef and Dairy) Natural herd growth comes from having a high proportion of productive females (cows and heifers) in the herd. The ideal is to have 70 percent female animals for breeding and 30 percent males for draught power. The program is encouraging farmers to keep only productive animals and sell off the unproductive ones (steers, excess oxen, inferior quality bulls, old cows and non-performing heifers and cows). Income generated from the sales is used for purchasing productive animals as replacements. Cows, if well managed, can be effective for draught power without compromising their fertility. Beneficiaries without steers were advised to employ this model because they had been hiring draught oxen. Farmers were advised to consider selling their excess stock off the rangeland, taking advantage of the abundant feed (grass and pasture) from the current rainy season. With a sound breeding program and adherence to program promoted GAHPs, each cow should be able to bear a calf every year and increase herd growth naturally, which is expected to create opportunities for household animal sales each year. Artificial insemination provides a quick, effective and affordable path to breed improvement. The program’s AI approach incorporates a sustainability plan, which involves training local AI service providers, resident among farmers to offer the service after the program closes. During the review period 30 AI service providers, were trained by the program’s subcontractor ABS-TCM. The program has trained 142 AI service providers, 56 women, since inception in June 2015 (Table 3.3.1.1). Table 3.3.1.1: AI Service Providers (SPs) Trained Across Program Districts up to March 31, 2017 District # of SPs Quarter Cumulative Sex Total Sex Total Female Male Female Male Chirumhanzu 0 1 1 0 1 1 Gokwe South 0 1 1 0 1 1 Gweru 2 4 6 2 4 6 Hwange 7 7 14 7 7 14 Lupane 0 1 1 13 27 40 Nkayi 2 4 6 32 37 69 Shurugwi 0 1 1 2 9 11 Total 11 19 30 56 86 142 Source: ABS-TCM The success of any breeding system is dependent on cow fertility, semen quality or bull fertility (breeding soundness), inseminator or bull efficiency, and heat detection efficiency. These four factors need to be understood as farmers prepare breeding cattle for AI. The program trained 1,383 farmers (38 percent women) on the four factors in preparation for the breeding season (January to April 2017) (Table 3.3.2 & Table 3.3.4). The program and its partner ABS-TCM focused on registering cows and heifers for insemination during the January to April 2017 breeding season; mobilizing resources (hormones, semen, insemination

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 20 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

accessories etc.); monitoring health condition of cows; ensuring that on farm cattle handling facilities (such as races and overnight pens) are in good working condition to allow breeding, dosing, deworming and general farm routines; and identifying cows that are maintaining a minimum body condition score of 3 for future breeding. Challenges were encountered, which included:  Most cows were still in poor body condition for AI, as a result of the previous season’s drought. Overall, 22 percent of the 154 cows brought forward were not suitable for AI. Around 15 percent of the total cows brought forward were pregnant while the remainder were too young or in poor body condition. This delayed the start of the AI program to the end of January 2017. As the cows improve in body condition and those that calved between January and February 2017 surpass the 60 days after calving stage more cows will be presented for AI across the districts.  Farmers were facing cash flow problems to finance the exercise. There was a 20 percent reduction in the number of cows initially identified as suitable largely as a result of farmers not having cash to pay for the AI service. Most of these farmers requested to pay for the AI in instalments. The program engaged the services of micro bank Lion Finance Zimbabwe to bridge the financing gap. A pilot to finance 57 animals belonging to 48 farmers was launched in Gokwe South at the end of March 2017.  The Cidirol drug for the usual Cidirol-CIDR-Prostaglandin-Cidirol timed AI protocol was unavailable from the market causing delays in carrying out heat synchronizations. A new protocol was initiated for cows identified in Nkayi district using a CIDR and prostaglandin protocol in which cows were bred based on heat detection. The program trained herdsmen to be responsible for heat detection. All the 12 cows that were heat synchronized expressed heat and were detected by the trained herdsmen. Table 3.3.1.2 summarizes the AI activities of the program as at the end of March 2017. Ninety-two of the154 cows and heifers were inseminated. Pregnancy diagnosis tests will be conducted as from May 2017.

Table 3.3.1.2: Summary of AI activities Across Program Districts as at March 31, 2017 Number of Cows Inseminated as Presented for Confirmed District Ward/Village Presented Suitable Heat Comment at March 31, Pregnancy Pregnant as at for AI for AI Synchronized 2017 Diagnosis March 31, 2017 The pace has been slow due Chipinge 16 and 29 26 20 20 1716 Nil Nil to challenges in accessing the required AI materials Cows in good body 4, 8, and 9 condition. All inseminated Lupane 34 25 16 16 Nil Nil with Simmental breed (Keeldrum Clio) 4 immature heifers rejected. Hwange 2 & 17 30 22 17 17 Nil Nil PDs due end of May

16 Three semen straws were unusable.

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Ward 20 cows still to be heat synchronized and 18 and inseminated. PDs for Nkayi 28 23 12 12 Nil Nil 20 inseminated cows to be conducted in June 2017.

Chirumhanzu 1 & 11 9 8 8 8 Nil Nil PDs still to be done Gokwe South 14 & 16 17 13 13 13 Nil Nil PDs still to be done Shurugwi 23 4 4 4 4 Nil Nil PDs still to be done Gweru 7 & 14 6 5 5 5 Nil Nil PDs still to be done Total 154 120 95 92 Source: Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program . In Lupane district 16 animals belonging to eight farmers (two females) from wards 4, 8 and 9 were inseminated. These animals were inseminated after they had been synchronized to come on heat at the same time. All animals were inseminated with Simmental breed semen at a cost of $40 per animal.

In Hwange district the 17 animals that were inseminated belong to five farmers from wards 2 and 17. The animals were also monitored for returning on heat and none of the 17 showed signs of recurring heat, which could indicate conception. This will be confirmed through pregnancy diagnosis at the end of May 2017.

In , while a total of 34 cattle had been initially registered for the March 2017 AI program, only 17 cattle were presented for AI as farmers cited cash flow challenges. The program is now working with micro finance institutions (MFIs) to provide bridging finance to enable farmers to undertake AI and pay back later as their cash flows become positive.

Fifteen cattle had been registered for AI in but have been put on hold until the service provider ABS-TCM has the necessary resources available. Implementation of the AI program in the district will commence once the Lion Finance AI scheme in Gokwe South district is complete.

Thirty-four cattle had been registered for AI in but have also been put on hold as the service provider ABS-TCM had no hormones for insemination.

3.3.2 Dairy The program’s target dairy districts are Chipinge, Umzingwane, Gweru, Shurugwi, Chirumhanzu, and Gokwe South. In addition to fodder production, GAHPs on calf rearing, cattle handling facilities, recordkeeping, clean milk production, cattle feeding, and herd health management were specific activities covered with dairy farmers during the period under review.

Fodder production The summer season is the preferred time to grow fodder crops and establish pastures and fodder trees due to the abundance of rains. Hence, the program’s focus this quarter was to train farmers to prepare fodder plans and banks adequate for feeding their herds particularly during the dry, lean winter season. In all beef and dairy focus areas, the program promoted fodder production through the establishment of demonstration plots on the fields of lead farmers. The program trained farmers to develop fodder flow plans that were tailored to each farmer’s herd size to ensure that sufficient fodder is produced. The program’s target is for farmers to grow and conserve enough feed to meet their herd’s requirements during the lean season, thus reducing the need to purchase commercial supplements and to lengthen lactation days. Currently the lactation lengths from dairy beneficiary herds are about 211days. Longer calving intervals and poor milk production are a direct result of farmers failing to adequately plan for

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 22 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 their cattle as most do not harvest and preserve fodder during the periods when grasses are in abundance. The program provided regular training and technical assistance on good agricultural practices to lead farmers hosting demonstration plots and a minimum of 10 other farmers from nearby farms participated in these trainings. During the review period, 568 beef farmers, 47 percent women, and 467 dairy farmers (42 percent women) were trained on how to grow and maintain their fodder crops, which included pastures and trees (Table 3.3.2 & Table 3.3.4). A total of 359 demonstration plots were established with a diverse array of pasture and fodder crops carefully selected to suit the different agro-ecological zones (Table 3.3.2.1). By the end of the review period, 163 hectares had been planted to fodder and pasture species with plot sizes ranging from 0.1 to 2 hectares. Lovemore Ncube in Umzingwane established 1 hectare of fodder crops comprising maize, sorghum, velvet beans, cowpeas, and sweet sorghum for his 15 dairy animals. (See Annex 1: Fodder and pasture establishment key to improving livestock productivity) Incessant rains across all program sites as from mid-December 2016 to mid-March 2017 delayed the

Photo by Fintrac Inc. (Left) Lucia Zvidzayi from Gokwe South monitoring her Cenchrus grass. (Right) Ethel Dube from Irisvale, Umzingwane in her velvet bean crop. establishment of the fodder crops. Some fodder crops were affected by heavy leaching and weed infestation due to the intense rainfall.

Forage crops grown include grasses (sugar graze sorghum, maize, Cenchrus, Rhodes, and star grass) and legumes (velvet bean, cowpeas, sunn hemp, silver leaf Desmodium, and Stylosanthes) to serve both dairy and beef enterprises. Velvet bean is the main legume fodder crop being grown (43 percent of demo plots and 35 percent of the area planted). Velvet bean is now a familiar fodder crop among smallholder livestock farmers, as the program has been promoting it since inception. The crop is also adapted to a wide range of soil types and climates and is one of the most drought tolerant legumes. Cenchrus ciliaris and Stylosanthes Scabra are also drought tolerant and were introduced to most of the program sites this season. Silver leaf Desmodium, and Rhodes grass are good legume and grass forages respectively but susceptible to drought, hence have been recommended for program Photo by Fintrac Inc. sites in Natural Region III. A thriving silver leaf crop in Gokwe South.

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Table 3.3.2.1: Fodder and Pasture demos established in Program Areas, Oct 2016 - March 2017 Giant Velvet Bean Sunn hemp Sorghum Maize Silage Silver leaf Cenchrus Stylosanthes Star grass Total District Rhodes # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area(ha) # Area Chipinge – 9 2 5 1 2 0.2 2 0.1 1 0.05 19 3.35 Mutema/Chibuwe Chipinge – Chisumbanje/ 19 3.9 5 1.8 3 0.6 2 0.2 1 0.1 30 6.6 Checheche Shurugwi Wards 2, 3, 5, 6, 12 4 1 0.1 4 1 10 2.5 3 0.1 6 0.8 1 0.1 3 0.2 2 0.1 42 8.9 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 20, and 23 Kwekwe Ward 6 2 5 10 4 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 12 Umzingwane Wards 10 2.5 1 0.2 6 2.3 8 7.8 1 0.1 2 0.2 0 0 1 0.4 2 1.2 31 14.7 5,6,7,13,18 Gokwe Wards 34 23 10 5 15 10 34 40 5 0.5 3 0.5 0 0 15 8 20 11 136 98 13,15,16, and 19 Chirumhanzu 8 2 1 0.1 2 1 11 3.1 Wards 1, 7,11 Gweru Wards 6 1 4 0.4 5 1 15 2.4 6, 7, 8, and 9 Nkayi Wards 5,17,18,20,21 and 16 2.3 16 2.3 27 Lupane Wards 14, 4, 8 24 9.0 2 0.2 26 9.2 and 27 Hwange Wards 2, 4, 16 2.1 16 2.1 11and 17 Total 156 56.8 35 12.4 39 17.5 59 52.3 9 0.7 15 1.8 3 0.25 19 8.6 24 12.3 359 162.65 Source: Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program

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Maize and sugar graze sorghum are the main silage crops being promoted. These crops have been adopted well by both smallholder beef and dairy beneficiaries across all the program focus areas, particularly in the Midlands, with farmers in Gokwe South establishing 40 hectares of maize for silage. Farmers were trained on the use of herbicides in both their maize for silage and household food as a labor saving technology to control weeds and increase yields. The Chilo worm (fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda), was wide spread in all program areas and affected the late planted maize crop. The program liaised with AGRITEX in assisting farmers in correctly identifying the pest and recommending correct control measures. In addition, most of the silage crops were affected by waterlogging that delayed maturity and harvesting, thus silage making will commence in April 2017. Farmers were also encouraged to plant pasture grasses and intercrop them with legumes in their paddocks to improve pasture productivity and increase their carrying capacity. However, due to the incessant rains the germination ranged from being poor to fair as some seeds were swept away. Three farmers in Chirumhanzu, one in Shurugwi and one in Gweru have adopted this technology, which aims at intercropping legumes with grasses to provide a nutritious sward of graze that provides both energy and protein. Silver leaf Desmodium intercropped with star grass or natural grass was the main choice with 1.5 hectares being planted in Chirumhanzu. The program will continue educating farmers on forage production and rangeland reinforcement and farmers are being encouraged to harvest seed from the current crops in preparation for the next season. In addition to forage grasses and legumes, the program is training farmers on the use of multipurpose trees and shrubs such as mulberry, Faidherbia, Leucaena, mupanda, Dichrostachys, and cactus for fodder and fruit. The program is recommending that these trees be planted as boundary fences and for shade at homesteads, gardens, along contour ridges, water ways or in the pasturelands and rangelands. The program also encouraged farmers to harvest as much grass hay as they can from the rangelands and crop residues to provide for their cattle’s daily feed requirements during the lean period,. The prolonged humid weather conditions delayed harvesting of both planted and rangeland hay and proper preservation of crop residues from the early maturing food crops (groundnuts, cowpeas, maize). In Chipinge, farmers grew mainly sunn hemp and velvet bean and the two fodder crops are now at reproductive stage. Although farmers have started harvesting the crops for fodder, most intend to produce seed, which is still in short supply in the district. Farmers will also utilize sorghum and maize stover, which is abundantly available this year. Most of the sorghum crop started producing vegetative suckers soon after harvesting the grain, and will contribute additional herbage for preservation. In Lupane district, 24 farmers have established 9.2 hectares of fodder crops, which is in the vegetative, flowering and pod setting stages. Trellising of the velvet bean crop has been encouraged to maximize on herbage and seed yield. The crop is flourishing well due to good rains received in the district during the quarter. In Hwange district 16 farmers have planted 2.1 hectares, mostly velvet bean, which is also at vegetative and pod setting stages.

3.3.3 GAHPs During the period under review, in conjunction with DVS, DLPD, ABS-TCM, and input suppliers, the program promoted, trained, and gave technical assistance through farmer managed demonstrations at centers of excellence, focusing on the following GAHPs and technologies, which aim to increase production and productivity of both the beef and dairy herds: Calf rearing

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Calf growth rates and calf mortalities are key issues that underpin the productivity and profitability of both beef and dairy enterprises. Organic growth in herd sizes stems from good calf rearing practices that aim at reducing calf mortalities. The target growth rates for female calves should enable the farmers to breed the heifers at 80 percent of the mature weight, between 18 and 24 months of age, while for male beef calves the target is for the steers to be sold between 30 and 36 months for the farmers to achieve the highly priced super grades. Good calf growth is represented by a daily weight gain of between 0.5 to 0.8 All photos by Fintrac Inc. kilograms. Farmers were trained on the Above: Good calf feeding practices. benefits of proper calf feeding; housing; Below: Calf weighing practice. vaccination and health routines; growth monitoring; weaning ages and methods. Technical assistance on calf housing, focused on low to no cost designs that allow for good ventilation; warmth; space and good lighting. Farmers were encouraged to put low-cost wind barriers such as old hessian sacks to cover the bottom half of their calf pens. Demonstrations for weighing calves were done showing the farmers a simple method of weighing their calves, using a basic scale and sackcloth. The farmers were encouraged to create paddocks to pen the calves to facilitate creep feeding, which is essential for rumen development and subsequently good calf growth. Calves should be provided with ad libitum fresh feed and water in these paddocks. The importance of supplementary feeding female calves was highlighted to achieve the desirable bulling weights and ages. Calf rearing also covered aspects on calf scouring, which is a condition of great economic importance with a high morbidity among calves. Scouring in neonatal calves is generally either pathogenic or nutritional. Trainings thus focused on prevention and treatment. Part of prevention is creating an environment that minimizes exposure to disease causing agents through proper calf housing. During the review period the program provided technical assistance for the construction of 15 proper calf pens in Gokwe South (7), Chirumhanzu (4), Gweru (2), Photo by Fintrac Inc. Shurugwi (1) and Umzingwane (1). Calves form the foundation of herd productivity and it is essential to have a healthy calf; A healthy calf from the Milk Quality control Jerera family in Ward 8 in . During the quarter under review, 234 dairy

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 26 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 farmers from the program’s dairy focus areas of Gokwe South; Chirumhanzu; Shurugwi and Umzingwane districts received quality control training on producing hygienic milk suitable for sale on the formal milk market. Farmers received training on hand milking procedures and were discouraged from using plastic milk containers as they are difficult to clean and result in milk spoilage before its reception by formal markets. Farmers were also trained to deliver milk to a cold chain within two hours of milking to avoid souring. Udder cleaning with warm water before milking was also encouraged. Use of clean hygienic facilities and treatment of mastitis was emphasized. In addition, dairy farmers were encouraged to adopt good hygiene practices to ensure they deliver hygienic milk to the market. With this in mind, the program has been promoting use of the drum system to make clean and running water available in milking parlors. Milk is a perishable commodity, which requires hygienic handling and care at all stages from the actual cow synthesis in the udder through milking to the final consumption. Cows infected with a bacterium called Brucella abortus causes fetal abortion (contagious abortion) in cows. Consumption of milk produced by an infected cow can cause undulant fever in humans. The program is training farmers on good herd health management, which include proper vaccination and routine monitoring of dairy herds for contagious abortion and other cattle diseases of economic importance17. Milk contamination can occur from bacterial infection of the udder through the teat canal, when cows are housed in muddy pens, resulting in mastitis. Milk from mastitic cows has a high somatic cell count, precluding the milk from product processing into cheese, and any other fermented products. The program is encouraging dairy farmers to create paddocks and good cattle holding pens planted with grass and legume pastures (star grass, Cenchrus, Katambora Rhodes grass, silver leaf Desmodium, Stylosanthes). The program is also encouraging beef- dairy farmers to construct upgradable milking parlors, starting with a cement slab to reduce milk contamination from dust and dung around the milking area. This could then be upgraded gradually as farmers earn income from their milk production. The program continues to promote hygienic conditions around the parlor by training farmers on the recommended 30-meter distance for manure disposal away from the parlor; use of fly traps to reduce flies and use of hand Photo by Fintrac Inc. washing stations, with detergent, for use Lucia Zvidzayi milking her beef-dairy cow in her milk shed when milking. under construction. After the rejection of 3,085 liters of milk delivered by Gokwe MCC to Dendairy in December 2016 due to antibiotic contamination from one member, the need for training farmers on quality control became apparent. The program is constantly reminding farmers to adhere to the recommended withdrawal periods after using antibiotics. In Umzingwane district, 11 farmers from Irisvale area currently producing for sale in the local market were trained on clean milk production, milk quality, and hygiene. The program facilitated raw milk testing through Dairy Services to check on the milk quality. The results indicated that the farmers were producing good quality milk. The information provides bargaining power to the farmers to access formal

17 Lumpy skin, blackleg, tick-borne diseases, and mastitis

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 27 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 markets. The results also provide a basis for follow on technical assistance and training in feeding and animal health.

Fresh cow18 management The program provided training and technical assistance on fresh cow management to farmers in Gokwe South and Chirumhanzu districts aimed at reducing mortality of fresh cows from milk fever through feeding diets high in calcium. Farmers were trained on pre- and post-partum care of the cow. Training also focused on monitoring milk production to ensure that the calf gets enough milk and excess milk is stripped from the udder to prevent mastitis. In Gokwe South, post-partum treatment with tetracycline and pessaries was done to prevent uterine infections on six heifers (acquired under the government’s Dairy Revitalization Program), which had aborted. In Chirumhanzu district, Richard Matongo was assisted to treat a retained after-birth. He bought pessaries for insertion into the cow and was helped to administer antibiotics to the cow, which has now fully recovered. Recordkeeping During the quarter under review, the program provided training and technical assistance to 916 farmers (43 percent women) to improve their business records (Table 3.5.2). Recordkeeping is essential for the success of the dairy and beef enterprises. Results from the first round of the AHS show that 18 percent of the farmers were keeping records, for formulating enterprise budgets and tracking their incomes. However, only 16 percent of farmers were able to calculate their profit and loss. Farmers were trained on using essential records such as the stock card and also the importance of recording breeding dates of their cows and heifers. A record forms the basis for making informed decisions on an enterprise. Jevas Konzayi is a beef-dairy farmer from Hlabati village in Ward 11, Chirumhanzu district. “I started keeping breeding records on my farm and I have observed that one of my cows is actually giving me a calf every year,” said Konzayi. “I am now working on improving the performance of my herd to get a calf each year from all my cows.” Feed formulation Feed formulation demonstrations have been established at five of Chipinge’s lead farmers who grew fodder and also have potential to stockpile other useful locally available cattle feed. Farmers around the demonstrations have produced a diverse range of fodder crops, which will be used to formulate balanced feed rations for maintenance and feedlot production. Animal health

During the review period, 331 dairy and 571 beef Photo by Fintrac Inc. farmers across the 10 program operational districts Ear tagging is an essential practice for good received training on animal health compared to 185 recordkeeping. and 438 respectively in the previous quarter.

18 A cow within two weeks after calving

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Farmers in all program areas were trained on prevention and treatment of foot rot, which is prevalent due to wet and muddy conditions in overnight pens. As a preventive measure, farmers were encouraged to reduce the cattle pen density to allow 12 square meters per animal, which allows for ample drainage and drying of wet areas by wind and sun. In addition, farmers were advised to use free hold overnight paddocks as temporary camps. Farmers were also trained on disease prevention using vaccines and treatment using various drugs. Diseases prevalent during the summer include botulism, lumpy skin and blackleg. The effective way for control is through vaccinations. In Shurugwi district, 295 animals were vaccinated against blackleg and anthrax using a combination vaccine. A further 95 cattle were vaccinated against blackleg, botulism and lumpy skin disease in Chirumhanzu and Umzingwane districts. The most prevalent diseases noticed in all program areas were mainly tick-borne diseases, lumpy skin, blackleg, and foot rot. In the three Matabeleland districts of Nkayi, Lupane, and Hwange heartwater, foot rot, blackleg, and lumpy skin were prevalent. Four beneficiaries in Lupane combined resources to purchase blackleg and lumpy skin vaccine and immunized their 50 head of cattle. Foot rot was minimized by erecting temporary pens to lessen muddy conditions during overnight confinement. Fifty cattle belonging to three farmers in Nkayi district were vaccinated against lumpy skin and blackleg. The farmers received technical assistance from the program and combined their resources to procure the vaccine. Dipping and deworming Technical assistance aimed at reducing the prevalence of ticks through regular dipping was done across all districts. Tick populations increased significantly because of the incessant rains received during the quarter. This predisposed cattle to deadly tick-borne diseases such as heartwater. This disease and other tick-borne diseases are of economic importance in livestock production hence the need for proper and timely control. Most of the government-run dip tanks in are short of acaricides and farmers were advised to do their own dipping at their respective households and follow a short dipping cycle of three to five days, especially where ticks were most prevalent. Farmers were also encouraged to deworm their cattle to control liver fluke and other intestinal worms prevalent during the wet period. Internal parasites weaken the immunity of the animals resulting in infections, poor performance and subsequent loss of animals. Trainings focused on correct choice of anthelmintic products; proper times to deworm; use of correct doses, and management of pesticide resistance. In addition, the program raised awareness on the dangers of open defecation. In the Midlands, 1,355 animals (425 Chirumhanzu, 406 Gokwe South, 250 Kwekwe, 79 Umzingwane, 15 Shurugwi, 80 Gweru) were dewormed using various anthelmintic doses during the review period. The program also advised on alternative deworming drugs for lactating cattle to the Grace Baptist dairy group farmers in Gokwe South who intended to use Valbazen. The program recommended an alternative Nilzan Bolus, which has no withdrawal period, so that farmers would continue to deliver milk to the Gokwe MCC without losing money. The program facilitated procurement of deworming chemicals for four farmers in Nkayi district and further provided technical guidance on the deworming of their 42 cattle. One farmer Micah Ncube of Ward 21 in Nkayi has adopted the ‘vet briefcase technology’. The kit is fully stocked with the basic necessary livestock drugs and disposable syringes for use on the farmer’s eight cattle. During the quarter, Ncube provided technical advice on deworming to his neighbour and went a step further in deworming the neighbour’s cattle at a fee of $0.50 per animal. The farmer is among the community paravets who regularly receive refresher trainings from DVS. Three heartwater mortalities were recorded in Gwitshi area of Nkayi district, which necessitated intensifying dipping awareness trainings. Farmers were advised to purchase PERSUAP-compliant

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 29 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 chemicals and apply them on-farm to their herds. The most prevalent dipping chemical procured was Triatix. Farm infrastructure Farmers in Chipinge were trained on construction of sound cattle handling facilities to make the performance of AI operations easier and improve the general welfare of cattle. In wards 1, 3, and 4 the construction of strong pens inside boundary fences is being promoted as a useful strategy for protecting cattle from predation by lions. Program promoted GAHPs in Midlands included encouraging farmers to construct appropriate calf housing pens Photo by Fintrac Inc. and cattle races to ensure safety when A cow ready for pregnancy diagnosis at Maxwell Dube’s handling animals for various activities homestead in in a newly constructed cattle race. such as treatment, dosing, vaccination, and AI. Program beneficiaries constructed 63 cattle races during the quarter in Gokwe South (25), Kwekwe (15), Shurugwi (10), Chirumhanzu (5), Gweru (4), and Umzingwane (4). Program beneficiaries in Midlands also constructed 10 hay sheds (Chirumhanzu 4, Gokwe South 2, Shurugwi 4), for storage of their preserved fodder. Construction of more hay sheds will be encouraged in the next quarter as the harvesting of grass from the rangelands and crop residues intensify. Herbicide use Weeds affect crop performance and consequently depress the yields. Furthermore, farmers spend many hours weeding, as they are forced to weed a crop around three times in a season. Consequently, farmers neglect GAHPs that the program is promoting resulting in productivity and profitability setbacks. For example, most farmers were leaving their animals in the pens until very late in the day, compromising grazing time and productivity. Herbicide trainings focused on selection of appropriate herbicides, safe handling, and application techniques. Herbicides promoted were Stellar Star®, Servian®, Glyphosate, and Nicosulfuron. Use of the nonselective herbicide Glyphosate was also promoted to help farmers to clear land for establishment of fodder crops without the need for tillage. This was useful for farmers as the incessant rains made it difficult to till the land for fodder and crop planting. In Umzingwane, Albert Ncube and Saneliso Mhlanga embraced herbicide technology by spraying non- selective herbicide Glyphosate, on 0.5 hectares intended for planting maize for fodder. Thanks to zero tillage provided by the herbicide, Ncube was able to establish his crop without having to plough during the incessant rains. The labor-saving technology cost him $9 for 1 liter of chemical used, compared to the $60 cost of hiring a tractor to plough the same 0.5 hectare plot. Saneliso Mhlanga in Ward 6 received technical assistance on herbicide selection, correct application techniques, and safe handling. Mhlanga applied Stellar Star® herbicide in his maize crop and has indicated its effectiveness in controlling weeds; cost and time saving in terms of labor hiring and allowing him ample time to take care of his dairy herd.

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Grace Mamutse from Gokwe South and her husband Mike Timba, bought Stella Star® and Nicosulfuron and applied the chemicals for the first time to their maize crop, after many years of manual hand weeding. Mamutse was impressed by this labor-saving technology, which cost $65 per hectare compared to up to $250 spent on hand labor, giving ample time for the family to engage in other productive household activities.

Photo by Fintrac Inc. Mike Timba and his wife Grace Mamutse showcasing the advantages of herbicide use. Grace stands in her clean maize field that was sprayed with Stellar Star® and Nicosulfuron.

Two farmers in Ward 5 of Nkayi district; Lindisi Nyoni and Mbonisi Tshuma demonstrated the use of Glyphosate under zero tillage in their velvet bean fields. The 73-year-old Nyoni of Sivomo expressed her satisfaction with the performance of the herbicide.

Dehorning, castration and ear tagging The program in collaboration with DLPD and DVS in Chipinge district conducted training and demonstrations on dehorning of cattle and castration of young males. Twenty-five young bulls were castrated and 23 calves dehorned at Kondo and Mabhiza dip tanks. Castration improves the quality of meat while dehorning improves cattle handling. Dehorning also allows maximum utilization of space when feeding and during transportation. Castration demonstrations were carried out on 87 animals in the Midlands province areas of Chirumhanzu (29), Shurugwi (26), Kwekwe (18), Gokwe South (11), and Gweru (3) districts during the quarter. The program is promoting ear tagging for ease of identification, recordkeeping, cattle management, and theft prevention. The 92 animals that were artificially inseminated were ear tagged for recordkeeping and ease of identification. Ear tagging proved to be an effective tool in guarding and recovery of cattle against theft and losses. Ernest Ncube of Nkuba village in Nkayi recovered a heifer that he had lost at the start of the rainy season by way of the phone number written on the ear tag. 3.3.4 Partnerships EG.3.2-5 Number of public-private partnerships formed as a result of USG assistance The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s approach to commercialization of small-scale farmers includes partnerships with private sector traders, processors, input suppliers, technical service providers, and credit and financial institutions. These partnerships help to facilitate and foster sustainable relationships among these players. In this quarter the program facilitated an agro input market linkage where one group in Ward 11, Chirumhanzu was successfully linked to Windmill (Pvt)

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Ltd. under the Windmill saving schemes. The program facilitated opening of the account through offering trainings on group input procurement. The aim of the group is to bulk inputs through monthly savings with disbursement being done just before the rains in October. The program negotiated with Lion Finance Zimbabwe and signed an MOU to collaborate in providing bridging finance to beneficiary beef and dairy farmers to enable activities such as AI, pen fattening and infrastructure development among others. 3.4 NUTRITION AND WASH

The solicitation to identify a technical partner to assist in implementing the Nutrition and WASH strategy did not yield the expected outcome and none of the proposed partnerships suited the program’s technical requirements and financial capacity. Main issues with received proposals were: i. Limited geographical spread: No proposals included Matabeleland. ii. High budgetary expectations: While proposals did cover parts of the program’s focus area, their budgets combined with their geographical reach was more than the program’s allocated resources. As such, hiring more than one organization to ensure full geographical reach was not a plausible solution because of budgetary restrictions. iii. Limited capacity: Proposals did not offer additional capacity that would add value to the current program capacity. Against this background, the program is working to employ additional operational staff based at the three regional offices to spearhead the program’s Nutrition and WASH issues under the supervision of the Nutrition and WASH specialist. The program continued to provide training and technical assistance to beneficiary farmers to ensure improved nutrition, hygiene practices and behavior changes.

Behavior change activities using practical hands on trainings and demonstrations were targeted at the lead farmer and centers of excellence radiating to the mentored farmers and the rest of the beneficiaries. Tables 3.4.1 and Table 3.4.2 summarize the number of program beneficiaries who received training and technical assistance on basic nutrition, WASH and child health during the quarter. During the quarter, 1,126 beneficiaries, 48 percent women, received training and technical assistance on basic nutrition compared to 598 in the previous quarter.

Table 3.4.1: Basic Nutrition Trainings in Program Focus Areas, Q2 FY2017 October- December, 2016 January- March, 2017 District Female Male Total % Women Female Male Total % Women Chipinge 42 33 75 56 136 139 275 49 Chirumhanzu 56 59 115 49 99 120 219 45 Gokwe South 38 42 80 48 95 113 208 46 Gweru 13 10 23 57 14 11 25 56 Hwange 4 3 7 57 27 31 58 47 Kwekwe 37 25 62 60 44 52 96 46 Lupane 15 21 36 42 36 46 82 44 Nkayi 35 49 84 42 26 12 38 68 Shurugwi 26 57 83 31 19 27 46 41 Umzingwane 12 21 33 36 43 36 79 54

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Grand Total 278 320 598 46 539 587 1,126 48 Source: CIRIS

During the quarter, 1,115 beneficiaries were trained on WASH compared to 543 in the previous quarter while 589 beneficiaries participated in child health and nutrition trainings and demonstrations. Child health and nutrition trainings focused on infant feeding, growth monitoring, maternal health, and exclusive breastfeeding. Table 3.4.2: WASH Trainings by District, Q2 FY2017 October - December, 2016 January- March, 2017 District Female Male Total % Women Female Male Total % Women

Chipinge 26 23 49 53 111 123 234 47 Chirumhanzu 56 54 110 51 89 107 196 45 Gokwe South 31 39 70 44 102 120 222 46 Gweru 11 12 23 48 17 19 36 47

Hwange 11 17 65 29 17 46 63 6 Kwekwe 37 24 61 61 32 38 70 46

Lupane 18 26 31 31 45 76 41 8 Nkayi 40 51 91 44 53 51 104 51 Shurugwi 23 57 80 29 24 42 66 36

Umzingwane 16 44 37 28 65 57 7 9

Grand total 46 47 250 293 543 525 590 1,115 Source: CIRIS

This quarter, 207 beneficiaries participated in awareness campaigns on exclusive breastfeeding. Table 3.4.3: Child Health and Nutrition Trainings in Program Focus Areas, Q2 FY2017 October- December, 2016 January- March, 2017 District Female Male Total % Women Female Male Total % Women Chipinge 2 6 8 25 69 96 165 42 Chirumhanzu 10 3 13 77 32 25 57 56 Gokwe South 32 15 47 68 50 42 92 54 Gweru 2 1 3 67 2 4 6 33 Hwange 1 - 1 100 10 4 14 71 Kwekwe 15 10 25 60 38 29 67 57 Lupane 2 2 4 50 28 42 70 40 Nkayi 11 12 23 48 27 9 36 75 Shurugwi 10 16 26 38 8 8 16 50 Umzingwane 3 9 12 25 35 31 66 53

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Grand total 88 74 162 54 299 290 589 51 Source: CIRIS Behavior change in WASH, nutrition, and child health is monitored through six indicators under the three sub-intermediary components of:  Improved utilization of nutritious foods  Improved hygiene behaviors  Increased prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding. Below is a summary of the achievements during the review period. 3.4.1 Improved Utilization of Nutritious Foods The rainy season brings with it an increase in the variety of foods that can be consumed at household level. Dietary diversity ensures good health, which increases household productivity as downtime due to morbidity is minimized. Activities to increase food diversity focused on raising awareness and sensitizing program beneficiaries on the nutrient content of various foods and the different food groups. Beneficiaries can now identify locally found nutritious foods that can be added to current diets; are aware of the need for the production of small livestock for animal protein; are growing some field crops and vegetables in their nutrition gardens; and are raising fruit trees. Training and technical assistance was provided on GAPs regarding the growing, harvesting, preservation, and storage of the summer legumes (cowpeas, groundnuts, round nuts) and small grains (sorghum, finger and pearl millets), which the program is promoting. Planting of fruit trees was also promoted across all program areas to take advantage of the abundant rains. Activities also focused on improving children’s health through imparting knowledge on the use of local nutritious foods and importance of the frequency and diversity of meals. Behavior change on utilization of nutritious foods by program beneficiaries during the review period is reported below under the four monitored indicators:  LD2 Percent of households that consistently consume at least 5 of the 9 food groups;  HL.9.1-c Women’s dietary diversity: Mean number of food groups consumed by women of reproductive age;  LD12 Prevalence of households with moderate or severe hunger.  LD14 Prevalence of children 6-23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet. Photo by Fintrac Inc. LD2 Percent of households that consistently consume at Children in Chipinge Ward 24 Mwanyisa least 5 of the 9 food groups picking zvidhongoti, a caterpillar rich in proteins During the quarter under review program beneficiaries consumed an average of 4.2 food groups , namely; grain, roots and tubers (95 percent); other vitamin A rich vegetables (64 percent); other fruits and vegetables (59 percent); dairy products (52 percent); dark green leafy vegetables (47 percent) legumes and nuts (38 percent) and meat (38 percent). Consumption of food groups high in protein sources was the least in all program areas. The program has encouraged own household production of legume crops during the current summer season (groundnuts, round nuts, and cowpeas). In addition, the program also encouraged the harvesting of wild insects such as mopane worms (amacimbi) in Umzingwane and Beet Armyworm Spodoptera exigua locally known as zvidhongoti in Chipinge district. Production of small stock such as chickens, rabbits, and goats is also being promoted and encouraged.

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In all program areas, consumption of milk was encouraged considering that most households have at least one cow in milk during this period of the year. To have diversity throughout the year, farmers were trained on drying and preserving fruits and vegetables currently in abundance for the leaner season. (See Annex 1:Food Preservation Techniques Help Boost Dietary Diversity and Food Security) HL.9.1-c Women’s dietary diversity: Mean number of food groups consumed by women of reproductive age Dietary diversity for women of child bearing age was at 4.1 food groups compared to the baseline score of 2.5. Main food groups consumed were cereals, leafy vegetables, other vegetables and fruits and occasionally dairy products and vitamin A-rich vegetables. Vitamin A rich foods and high protein source foods were the least accessed by women of this age group. The program promoted consumption, preservation and storage of vegetables that were abundant during the season, which included the non- leafy vegetables such as butternuts, gourds and pumpkins. Intake of poultry and eggs was promoted among women by encouraging consumption of chicken at least once a month and eggs daily. The program is promoting the rearing of indigenous breeds of fowls (chicken, guinea fowls, quail, and turkey). Some of the small grains that were produced in abundance are being used to feed the fowls for more egg production. Production of small livestock such as rabbits and goats is also being promoted. LD12 Prevalence of households with moderate or severe hunger Sample data from the first round of the AHS indicated 15 percent of households were facing moderate to severe hunger compared to 39 percent at baseline. The figure is low at this time of the year as food was readily available from the summer production. The worst districts with the highest prevalence were Chipinge, Chirumhanzu and Lupane, which had more than 20 percent of households with a score of at least 2. These districts were still suffering from the drought effects of the previous season; in addition, some of the summer crops were not yet ready for consumption. In these districts, government, through the Department of Social Services, was distributing food aid to vulnerable families during the period under review. The program continued to promote the selling of cattle to formal markets to increase household income, which would translate to availability of food. Farmers were also encouraged to participate in other income generating (group marketing of groundnuts, chicken, dried vegetables, dried insects), and ISAL activities that provide a means for families to have access to income, which would be used to address household food security. The program continued to assist farmers to increase small livestock through buying, exchanging and loaning, which eventually increases the herd size and provides both food and disposable income. LD14 Prevalence of children 6-23 months receiving a minimum acceptable diet Sixteen percent of children aged 6-23 months received a minimum acceptable diet compared to 1 percent at baseline. Mothers and caregivers participated in food demonstrations, preparing meals that are nutritious using the locally available food sources. Caregivers and mothers were engaged on how to provide their children with milk daily either through obtaining from neighbors or milking their own cattle or goats. As the beef-dairy concept is Photo by Fintrac Inc. gaining momentum, the availability and Village Health Worker leading a food demonstration to consumption of milk especially among young promote protein and rich foods among women of children is increasing. Caregivers were advised reproductive age in Chirumhanzu. to reserve an extra meal for the children daily to increase the frequency of meals. In Chirumhanzu district, beneficiaries from Pezulu village participated in a simple food fortification

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 35 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 demonstration to increase the nutrient density of their children’s food. Mothers participated in making porridge added with oil, peanut butter, milk and squashed vegetables and beans with little or no sugar. 3.4.2 Exclusive Breastfeeding LD 13: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding of children under six months of age The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding of children below six months of age was 67 percent during the quarter. The program promoted this practice among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Technical assistance visits were done to give more attention to mothers while also promoting awareness among other household members. 3.4.3 Improved Hygiene Behaviors LD 3 Percent of households that consistently practice at least 4 out of 6 good hygiene practices Twenty-nine percent of beneficiary households were practicing four of the six hygiene practices compared to 13 percent at baseline. This result is attributed to the increase in the number of beneficiaries participating in WASH activities. During the review period, the program provided training and technical assistance to 1,115 beneficiaries, a 100 percent increase from the previous quarter. The six hygiene behavior changes that were monitored included: Hand washing stations with cleansing agent and water within 10 paces of latrines Twenty-seven percent of beneficiary households were practicing the behavior correctly during the review period. This hygiene practice was easily adopted by farmers with already built latrines. Sample data from the first AHS indicate that 78 percent of program beneficiaries had latrines. During the period under review, 32 new latrines were erected across program areas and these were equipped with the recommended tippy taps. Toilet construction was inhibited in most program areas by the wet weather as the water table was high. Although the use of latrines with a washing station was prevalent across most program areas, the use of hand cleaning detergents remained low and requires continual awareness among farmers. A substantial number of farmers still have low perceived severity of the consequences of not washing their hands properly after visiting the toilet. Availability of the cleaning agent is also perceived as a cost. The program is encouraging farmers to use ash as a substitute to the detergent. Hand washing with cleansing agent at four critical moments (after defecating; after cleaning a child or handling diapers; before preparing food; before eating). From the first round of AHS, 11 percent of beneficiaries wash their hands at four critical moments with a detergent. Poor performance on this behavior was due to absence of cleansing agent, lack of water in the container and failure to wash hands at all four critical moments. Hand washing stations, mainly tippy taps, were extended to other strategic places such as the milking parlor, near the plate and pot washing racks and entrance into the homesteads. Farmers in Chipinge were encouraged to have specified containers, which will have water with a detergent set aside for hand washing by all family members to encourage hand washing with running water using ash or soap during critical times. There was need for continual reminders to beneficiary farmers to have these structures maintained and used well, as some are vandalized by children and animals. Dispose of solid household waste in protected pits. The program trained farmers on the safe disposal of household waste to improve their hygiene. The program promoted a three rubbish pit system, one for degradable waste; another for non-biodegradable plastic waste; and a third for glass and metal objects. This behavior change has been widely adopted (64 percent) due to the associated low to zero cost.

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Use recommended water treatment/purification technologies Text Box 3.4.1: Farmers adopt Rainwater Water purification is one practice that has harvesting been slowly adopted due to the low perceived After receiving training on rainwater harvesting from the risk associated with drinking untreated water. program, Grace Mamutse from Ward 16, Gokwe South and During the quarter only 23 percent of the a member of Kushinga Women group started harvesting households were observing good water water from her house roof into drums for domestic use treatment practices. Farmers were made aware (washing plates, laundry, drinking and cooking). Mamutse was advised to chlorinate drinking water using Waterguard®, of the risk associated with drinking untreated which is currently being sold locally for $0.70 per 100ml water especially during the rainy season when bottle. . the water table is relatively high. Boiling was One millimeter of rain falling on one square meter of roof recommended as one simple low-cost method will give one liter of water. Gokwe South district received as it is safe and kills most disease causing 722 millimeters of rainfall this season and for Mamutse with a pathogens. Chlorination was a popular method roof area of 12 square meters she had a potential of adopted in Umzingwane district, as farmers had harvesting 4,236 liters; however, she managed to harvest 1,800 liters. For the first time, the household was relieved of used it previously. travelling to a distant watering point during the period. Farmers were also encouraged to adopt Rooftop water harvesting can help livestock farmers meet rainwater harvesting (See Text box 3.4.1). their household and livestock requirements during the dry Store water in safe storage containers season between September and November. Farmers were Water storage in most households is in safe advised to install gutters and construct reservoirs as a containers, which could be either buckets with sustainable way to harvest and store rain water. When lids or 20 liter containers. Farmers during the successfully implemented this technology could end months of scrambling for limited water at the boreholes. period were encouraged to use the long handled pot, cup or gourd to fetch water from the buckets as this reduces the risk of contamination. The farmers were taken through lessons on sources of contamination during the different water handling process. Some beneficiaries went further and invested in water pumps and storage tanks to improve their access to clean water (See Annex 1- Increased Income Helps Smallholder Farmer Improve Household Access to Safe Water).

Dispose all feces including the children’s in a toilet/latrine During the quarter under review, 72 percent of beneficiary households were using toilets to dispose their human waste. Sample data from the first AHS indicate that 78 percent of program beneficiaries had latrines. Farmers in all program areas are embracing the need to use toilets or latrines to dispose feces. The program continued to remind farmers about the link between improper disposal of human waste and the incidence of beef measles in cattle to influence behavior change. Beef measles is an economic disease, which results in the downgrading or total condemnation of carcasses resulting in financial losses to the farmer. The program recorded the construction of 32 new toilets in the focus areas mainly in Lupane, Kwekwe, Chipinge, and Nkayi districts. Funding of construction was from savings or partial proceeds from cattle sales. Technical assistance on design and siting was provided by local environmental health technicians and village health workers. The targeted behavior change in most areas was initially on promotion of toilet use to replace the bush system, thus making inroads to other behavior changes on sanitation. Where toilets are available, it was easier for the household to adopt new hygiene practices such as washing of hands after use.

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The program continued to promote a low to no-cost toilet depending on the availability of resources. The no-cost toilet is constructed using local wood and mortar to make both the slab and the walls. Alternatively, the program also encourages the low-cost model that uses one 50-kilogram bag of cement and locally available sand, stones and wire to complete up to slab level. Tichawona Manyatera from Green Valley Group in Ward 6 of Kwekwe took heed of the program’s advice and is now in the process of constructing a toilet. In Nkayi, six toilets are currently at different stages of construction with one in Sobendle village being the only one that was completed within the quarter. In Gweru and Shurugwi districts farmers have now increased perception on the loss that is associated with having no toilets after the abattoir condemned and quarantined a number of carcasses of pen fed animals due to beef measles.

Photo by Fintrac Inc. (Left) Simple low-cost toilet construction demonstration at Sobendle village in Lupane. (Right) Lilian Mhlanga participating in the construction of her low-cost toilet in Nkayi.

3.5 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL LINKAGES

Business development and financial linkage services are cross-cutting activities that contribute directly to program results by assisting beneficiaries in identifying long-term opportunities for earning additional income. During the reporting period, activities focused on:  Farmer organization Developing the organizational capacity of farmer groups to participate in profitable value chains by providing training and support to producer group leaders and members in key managerial duties such as budgeting, work planning, simple financial management, conflict resolution, and good governance. Training was provided on feedlot performance evaluation and action planning for direct marketing off the rangeland and pen fattening.  Leadership skills Training lead farmers running the centers of excellence to establish a permanent knowledge and skills base within the community to promote the adoption of GAPs, GAHPs, and good business practices. Technical assistance was provided on duties of office bearers, constitution formulation, and action planning.  Developing business skills Trainings and technical assistance included enterprise budgeting; recordkeeping; contract management; feedlot performance evaluation; market intelligence and electronic banking.  Facilitating access to credit Farmers were linked to MFIs who provided loans for AI and capital equipment.

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 Improving market access and strengthening market linkages Beef farmers were linked directly to abattoirs and feedlot groups were linked to input suppliers for collective input procurement. Beef-dairy farmers in Gokwe South were linked to formal markets for their milk and procurement of credit for AI.

Text Box 3.5.1: Gokwe MCC moves toward viability by boosting milk intake from guest farmers. A simple viability analysis initiated by the program at Gokwe milk collection center (MCC) in Gokwe South, Midlands revealed that operational costs for the center accounted for 62 percent of monthly milk intake leaving producers to share the remaining 38 percent. For example, in January 2017, the MCC received 10,476 liters of milk valued at $4,085 and out of this 6,501 (62 percent) liters went toward running costs. Currently, the MCC is operating at 20 percent of its capacity. This revelation surprised the 25 members participating in the training. As a result, the program proposed that members consider increasing milk volumes delivered to the center through devising a model that accepts milk deliveries from non-members. In this arrangement, guest farmers (non-members) will be paid $0.03 per liter less than the producer price paid to MCC members who have paid the joining fee of $150 and monthly subscriptions of $5. Members agreed to the proposal which provided an opportunity for Sengwa Dairy Group to access a formal market. The 33 beef-dairy farmers participating in the program are seasonal milk producers who cannot afford the $150 joining fee. Projections done during the training indicate that with deliveries from the Sengwa Dairy group, daily milk volumes delivered to the MCC will increase from 300 to 450 liters. This development will be a win-win situation, as the MCC will benefit from increased milk volumes while guest farmers will benefit from a guaranteed formal market. Increasing milk volumes to the center will see an increase in the producer price from current $0.39 per liter.

Achievements under business skills development during the period under review are reported in the sections below with the appropriate FTF and custom indicators:

3.5.1 Technical Assistance and Training EG.3.2-4 Number of for-profit private enterprises, producer organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG food security related organizational development assistance During the quarter, 18 feedlot groups received business development training and technical assistance on evaluating the performance of the previous pen fattening cycle and putting in place appropriate plans to improve future performance and increase returns. One outcome was the need to improve farmers’ current beef breeds to those that have higher growth rates, better meat yield out percentage and carcass weights. The training assisted farmers to invest in breed improvement using AI to maximize returns through improved growth rate and carcass weight. In Gokwe South, seven MCC committee members received training on cost-profit-volume analysis, which revealed that low volume of milk intake eroded the profit. This highlighted the need to increase milk intake by inviting qualifying non-members to boost volumes, which will help increase margins. As a result, the committee resolved to start receiving milk from non-members but at a discounted price (See Text box 3.5.1). Thirty-three members from Sengwa beef-dairy group (Gokwe South) and Kubudirira and Green Valley ISALs (Kwekwe) received training on duties of office bearers, constitution drafting and action planning. Training on constitution review and work planning was provided to re-align the ISALs to support their beef-dairy enterprises.

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Farming as a family business training was provided to 1,626 beneficiaries (42 percent women) during the review period compared to 812 (45 percent women) in the previous quarter (Table 3.5.1.1). The proportion of women participation in business trainings decreased in all program areas during the Table 3.5.1.1: Business Skills Training by District, Q2 FY2017 October - December, 2016 January- March, 2017 District % % F M Total F M Total Women Women Chipinge 56 62 118 47 132 198 330 40 Chirumhanzu 95 110 205 46 116 140 256 45 Gokwe 41 57 98 42 193 290 483 40 South Gweru 19 18 37 51 22 28 50 44 Hwange 9 5 14 64 30 31 61 49 Kwekwe 25 18 43 58 53 55 108 49 Lupane 17 33 50 34 31 42 73 42 Nkayi 41 51 92 45 51 66 117 44 Shurugwi 29 51 80 36 18 46 64 28 Umzingwane 37 38 75 49 44 40 84 52 Grand 369 443 812 45 690 936 1,626 42 Total Source: CIRIS review period mainly as a result of their increased duties at this time of the year (attending to weeding, cattle and household chores). Integrated training and technical assistance was provided in recordkeeping, enterprise budgeting, credit control, contract management and group marketing with emphasis on electronic banking.

Table 3.5.1.2 summarizes the number of beneficiaries who received business skills trainings on various subjects, including farmer group organization, recordkeeping, enterprise budgeting, farm planning, credit control, contract management, electronic banking and group marketing compared to the previous quarter. Table 3.5.1.2: Business Skills training by subject, Q2 FY2017 October - December, 2016 January- March, 2017 Subject F M Total % Women F M Total % Women Contract Management 40 88 128 31 12 31 43 28 Credit Management 144 218 362 40 227 302 529 43 Farm Planning 37 40 77 48 33 50 83 40 Recordkeeping 235 254 489 48 391 525 916 43 Group Marketing 159 177 336 47 160 215 375 43 Enterprise Budgeting 123 196 319 39 100 115 215 47 Farmer Group Organization 137 207 344 40 189 245 434 44 Capacity Building 2 17 19 11 45 75 120 38 Bank Account Establishment 7 21 28 25 2 8 10 20

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Other19 - - - - 120 124 244 49

Source CIRIS

Enterprise budget training Enterprise budgets were used as proxy Text Box 3.5.2: Program partners microfinance to for income to help farmers in spearhead AI determining the profitability of pen fattening activities. Break-even price In Gokwe South District, while a total of 34 cattle had been analysis was used to advise farmers on initially registered for the March 2017 AI program, only 17 cattle the best times to sell their cattle either were presented for AI as farmers cited cash flow challenges. Most direct off the rangeland or after value of these farmers requested to pay for the AI in instalments or when cash would be available after selling their crops and milk. In added pen fattening. The exercise March 2017, the program negotiated with Lion Finance Zimbabwe assisted farmers to determine the and signed an MOU to collaborate in providing bridging finance to required feed resources; start beneficiary beef and dairy farmers to enable activities such as mobilizing resources and invest in AI to artificial insemination, pen fattening and infrastructure acquire genetics with the potential to development among others. maximize returns. Lion Finance is a microfinance bank, with a wide range of products In Chipinge district, training on that include farming loans, with women as the major target enterprise budgeting was conducted market. among beneficiaries who were either Forty-eight beef and dairy smallholder farmers working with the participating in fodder production or program from Gokwe South area received loans to finance AI of marketing cattle. More attention was their 57 animals at 4 percent interest per month and once off given to those participating or planning administration and insurance fees at 4 and 2 percent respectively. to participate in feedlots to ensure that this activity proceeded smoothly and resulted in good returns for farmers. Recordkeeping training The need to track income and expenses using the daily cash record was emphasized and demonstrated during feedlot performance evaluation meetings. During the AHS, the program noted that most farmers were not keeping written records of their business transactions. Farmers were encouraged to maintain an up-to-date simple daily cash record for each month. In addition, farmers were encouraged to keep records by initially taking simple notes on dates when they performed husbandry practices such as treatment, dosing and heat detection. Farmers were also encouraged to involve school going children in recordkeeping. Nine hundred and sixteen (916) beneficiary farmers, (43 percent women), received training and technical assistance in recordkeeping topics during the review period compared to 489 in the previous period. Smallholder beef farmers traditionally did not value maintaining cattle records but now as they are moving to commercial beef production they are beginning to appreciate the importance. Credit management training Credit management training conducted for AI financed farmers assisted in explaining the loan product. The training assisted beef-dairy farmers from wards 13, 14 and 16 in Gokwe South district to negotiate with the MFI an appropriate loan tenure of three months that matches with their cash inflows (See Textbox 3.5.2). Electronic bank training

19 ISALs, small stock management, off veld cattle sales, cattle trading, and credit linkages

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 41 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

Electronic bank training is being implemented as a response to the cash crisis in the economy. The program noted that farmers who sold pen fattened animals to abattoirs and accessed their sales income through electronic banking facilities were unable to buy replacement heifers or cows using the same facility in the community. The program continues to encourage farmers to embrace electronic banking as the contemporary mode of doing business. For example in Gweru, Ward 6, lead farmer Elizabeth Ndebele purchased a heifer for $400 through a mobile money transfer system. Although Chipinge farmers were fortunate to receive cash for the 30 cattle they sold this quarter, the income levels were 6 percent less than those for farmers prepared to receive payment through bank transfers or mobile platforms. The capacity of abattoirs to pay cash for cattle received has significantly reduced as they are currently paying 35 percent as cash and the balance using various electronic banking platforms. Determining animal value is essential when negotiating prices for getting the best value for the animal. Farmers were trained on determining the value of their animals using practical demonstrations of their own cattle. Farmers realized that their visual valuations under-estimated their cattle values by more than 70 percent compared to results obtained from estimations using the weigh belts. In Chipinge all farmers intending to sell cattle were first trained on determination of their animals’ value using the weigh belt for them to appreciate the difference in incomes between selling to middlemen and direct to abattoirs. This information also helped farmers to select animals suitable for direct marketing.

Group Marketing/Input Procurement Group marketing training was conducted in collaboration with Windmill for an input Photo by Fintrac Inc. savings program. The facility allows farmers Weight estimation of Marko Magwaza’s heifer using a to make monthly deposits toward weigh belt in Ward 1, Chirumhanzu district. procurement of mainly cropping inputs that are disbursed at the start of the planting season in September/October. In Chirumhanzu, Zezai Feedlot Group was linked to Windmill. The group received training on financial recordkeeping. This will ensure transparent handling of group funds when farmers contribute toward purchase of their inputs through monthly installments. Farmers in the group mainly use manure from their cattle for vegetable production with little going toward field crop production. As such the program aims to help farmers improve yields of field crops, whose residues will also be useful for livestock feed. In Chipinge the program took advantage of farmers’ meetings to educate on the importance of marketing cattle in groups to reduce or eliminate transport costs as well as lure competitive cattle buyers. 3.5.2 Access to Finance and Credit Access to credit was facilitated through group lending models that provided group co-guarantees as a security option for receiving commercial loans. EG.3.2-3 Number of MSMEs, including farmers, receiving agricultural related credit as a result of USG assistance.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 42 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017

The program collaborated with Lion Finance to provide training and technical assistance to farmers participating in breed improvement using AI. The training and technical assistance covered; credit and contract management with emphasis on group lending, constitution formulation and electronic banking. LD 8 Percent of beneficiaries borrowing at least once to finance purchase of livestock or other capital investment In Gokwe South district the program facilitated beneficiary beef farmer and leader Tawanda Sithole Text Box 3.5.2: Shurugwi smallholder from Ward 16, to access a $4,000 loan from Untu farmers fund livelihoods improvement Capital for buying a silage cutter. The loan will be through feedlot incomes repaid from milk sales. Chengeto and Lucia Mudhimbu sold three cattle to Montana Carswell Meats, a local abattoir after pen In Kwekwe district, at Ngondoma irrigation scheme, fattening for 53 days. The Mudhimbus earned a net the executive committee was engaged for credit income of $1,910 from the animals and, adding from linkage to buy a forage chopper. The business their personal savings, were able to purchase a grinding mill worth $2,000. The mill will help them utilize locally prospect was presented and farmers were tasked to available feed sources (acacia and monkey bread pods) - recruit members to form a beef-dairy group. producing low-cost feed for their livestock. EG.3.2-6 Value of Agricultural and Rural loans as a The family is earning extra income by providing toll milling services to other livestock farmers. Currently, result of USG assistance the family is earning a minimum of $300 per month from Increasing loan availability to smallholder farmers maize meal grinding services, which translates to $3,600 per year. Apart from the incomes, the family will use the and businesses in rural areas helps expand mill to chop silage and fodder for urea treatment, agricultural production, productivity, markets and thereby reducing drudgery from processes that they trade. The program facilitated 78 loan applications used to do manually. from beneficiary beef and dairy farmers in Gokwe South for financing AI. Fifty-eight applications were approved for 74 cows and 48 loans had been disbursed at the end of the review period. 3.5.3 Access to Markets Meaningful and sustainable commercialization of smallholder farmers occurs when markets are available and farmers can develop the confidence to transact and make profitable sales and incomes. The program is focusing on expanding market access for beef and dairy products from smallholder farmers by facilitating value chain relationships between private sector players and farmers. The program noted with satisfaction the migration by all the three abattoirs (Sabie Meats, Koala Park, and Montana Carswell Meats) servicing lower Chipinge from a heavy dependency on agents or middlemen in cattle procurement to direct procurement from farmer groups, a system they initially did not favor. The program mobilized the formation of marketing groups and introduced direct marketing of cattle to abattoirs in 2016 as an additional option to existing marketing channels in an effort to increase income levels. At program inception, lower Chipinge farmers heavily relied on middlemen and agents for beef cattle marketing who were short changing them by offering prices that were 50 percent less than abattoirs. Koala Park and Sabie Meats have since allocated personnel for outreach programs to encourage farmer groups to market directly to their abattoirs while Montana Carswell Meats opened a cattle sale pen in Chisumbanje area.

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3.5.3 Farmer-led Extension Systems Farmer-led extension systems continued to be strengthened in the program’s centers of excellence where lead farmers continued to receive training on facilitation skills and enabling them to cascade the acquired knowledge and skills on GAHPs and business practices to their peers. 3.5.4 Investment EG.3.2-22 Value of new private sector capital investment in the agriculture sector or food chain leveraged by FTF implementation On-farm investment in livestock and farm machinery contributes to increased production and productivity. The program encourages beneficiaries to rationalize herds by selling unproductive classes of animals and replacing them with productive classes, mainly heifers and breeding cows. Anecdotal data from the field indicate that beneficiary farmers bought 22 animals of productive classes (heifers, breeding

Photo by Fintrac Inc. Platform tests using Lactometer (left) and pH meter (right) in progress at Gokwe MCC during milk delivery by farmers cows and bulls) worth more than $8,000 during the quarter under review. Farmers used savings and feedlot proceeds to purchase these animals. Following program advice to procure an alternative device for testing freshness of milk delivered to the center, Gokwe MCC purchased a pH meter for $404; lactometer for $50 and a hand washing station for $30. The pH meter tests both pH and temperature of milk. The center is now able to detect acidity making it imperative for farmers to deliver milk to the MCC within two hours of milking. Prior to this, the MCC was losing revenue from sub- standard milk delivered as its alcohol gun was non- functional. Receiving quality milk from producers will ensure that the MCC continues to deliver milk to large Photo by Fintrac Inc. Gokwe MCC administrator Flora Chingora using processors such as Dendairy and also safeguard its the innovative foot pedal hand washing station designed to improve hygienic hand washing at Gokwe MCC. Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 44 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 investments. The program provided training on the use of the acquired equipment. 3.6 LOCAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s contract includes a component to build the capacity of local organizations, and the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development program, to effectively implement USAID-funded agricultural development activities. As such, the program uses Fintrac’s organizational capacity assessment to analyze partners’ leadership; corporate governance; strategic planning; operations, financial, and human resource management; and program and service delivery. Assessments are done on a yearly basis to assess partner’s progress and inform future capacity building activities. The program is currently providing capacity building support to LEAD Trust, a Zimbabwean organization implementing the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Crop Development program, and to four milk collection centers working with program beneficiaries. In addition, the program is building the capacity of its subcontractor ABS-TCM to ensure seamless implementation of the project. Awareness has been raised with LEAD and ABS-TCM on the need to use another capacity assessment tool, the Organizational Performance Index (OPI) in addition to the Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) tool going forward. Information on the new tool has been shared with the two organizations and findings will be reported at the end of FY2017. During the review period the program facilitated the training of LEAD and ABS-TCM finance staff on key financial management skills, which included internal controls, fixed asset management, VAT reporting, and expense controls. Technical assistance was provided to Shurugwi Dairy Cooperative Society on budget planning and monitoring of costs. Technical assistance was also provided to accounting staff at Gokwe Dairy Cooperative Society on the ongoing process of implementing a computerized accounting system. ABS-TCM was assisted and guided by the program during its USAID financial and compliance audit by KPMG. The specific capacity building activities carried out with the program’s partner organizations during the quarter are detailed below: 3.6.1 LEAD Trust The program organized a three-hour training session on internal controls in which three LEAD key finance staff participated. The topics covered included payment cycle; human resources and payroll controls; fixed assets management; and journal entry controls. Payment cycle areas covered included effective strategies for management of travel advances to staff and timely and accurately accounting for expenses. LEAD currently uses a Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) manual payment system to pay its suppliers. Modern and effective payment methods such as the electronic funds transfers and Paynet were demonstrated during training. The advantages to LEAD were discussed should the organization decide to change to more effective payment methods. The advantages of using the modern payment systems are:  Time and cost saved by not going to banking halls,  No need to wait for signatories who may be away, out of the country or in the field as they can authorize wherever they are as long as there is internet service,  Lower banking charges compared to RTGS if Paynet is used,  Risk of fraudulent payments is reduced since manual signatures that can be forged are not required when payment is finally released,  Reliable and accurate history on payment for goods and services is kept electronically and information is readily available when required.

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On human resources and payroll controls, participating LEAD staff was trained on compilation of individual employee personnel files. Highlighted information to be included in the personnel files were hiring documents, proof of qualifications, signed policy documents, employee personnel information, and performance appraisals among other documentation. Training was also provided on how to maintain complete asset registers as per donors and accounting standards regulations. Technical assistance was provided on annual VAT reporting as per USAID requirements, in preparation of the first annual report to be submitted by April 16th 2017. Training presentation documents covering the above areas were shared with LEAD’s Chief Executive Officer and the Finance and Human Resources Director. In the next quarter the program will follow-up with the Finance and Human Resources Director and ensure that controls on key areas such as payment of creditors and management of employee personal files are in place and are up to date.

3.6.2 ABS-TCM (Pvt) Ltd. The Capacity Assessment report conducted at the end of FY2016 on ABS-TCM was finalized and agreed upon for implementation. Key capacity issues identified and agreed on were:  ABS-TCM’s board of directors requires training on business strategies, requirements of the Companies Act under which it is registered and risk management.,  Policies and procedures need to be designed and implemented as regards to leave pay provision; IT; procurement; Bond Notes; human resources; and payroll. Existing policies and procedures need constant review and revision. The current policies and procedures are adopted from ABS- TCM Kenya and some may not be relevant to ABS-TCM Zimbabwe.  Training on tax compliance is required as the 2015 income tax return was not submitted on time.  A review of the HR policies and procedures will be conducted to ensure proper systems and controls are implemented. Special attention will be given to areas highlighted in the previous audit, which include lack of proper payroll authorization and inadequate maintenance of personnel records. For example it was noted that ABS-TCM uses two different systems for payroll, using the Belina system for staff on the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program while the rest of company employee payroll is completed manually. Capacity building is required to ensure all payrolls are run electronically to minimize errors and conform to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)’s Final Deduction System (FDS).  The procurement and creditors payment system will be reviewed and appropriate changes will be recommended to management.

The program assisted ABS-TCM during a financial and compliance audit by KPMG. ABS-TCM was assisted in preparing audit files and ensuring that documents met the auditors’ requirements. As a result of the program’s interventions and support the audit process was completed with minimal hassles and turnaround. No negative audit findings were reported in the draft ABS-TCM Financial and Compliance report. The program continued to provide technical assistance to ABS-TCM team in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Program M&E staff worked closely with ABS-TCM and a Kenyan vendor in setting up and rolling out the Open Data Kit (ODK) software for collecting information on the breeding activities of the program. The platform will collect real time data on AI, and herd composition for both beef and dairy. Pre-launch activities included:  Review of the AI and herd composition (beef and dairy) form in the ODK system.  Setting up validation rules (system constraints or algorithms) to minimize data entry errors.  Creating user accounts. The program M&E staff continues to work with ABS-TCM in offering M&E technical backstopping to

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 46 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 ensure smooth and quality data collation, processing and reporting. The ABS-TCM accountant also attended the finance training that included LEAD key finance staff. The topics covered included payment cycle, human resources and payroll controls, fixed assets management and journal entry controls.

3.6.3 MCCs The program is currently working with four MCCs that provide a market for beneficiaries’ milk. One center, Umzingwane Dairy Association (UDA) is still not operational since its closure during the last quarter due to viability issues arising mainly from poor governance and accountability issues by the leadership.

Shurugwi Dairy Cooperative Society (SDCS):

Shurugwi Dairy Cooperative Society was provided with technical assistance on drawing up financial statements and analyses to determine viability of their business. The financials indicate that the MCC is not performing well mainly due to poor business planning, governance, and accountability on the part of leadership (Table 3.6.1). It is clear that despite the MCC not having all the information to construct a complete balance sheet, the business is not in a healthy position as their current liabilities are more than current assets. A complete assessment requires the MCC to compile a fixed asset register.

Table 3.6.1 : Shurugwi Dairy Cooperative Society Financial Reports 1 Profit and loss statement for Periods Dec 2016, Jan 2017 and Feb 2017

Dec 2016 Jan 2017 Feb 2017

Milk received from Farmers 851 liters 307 Liters 556 liters

Sales in Litres 673 liters 283 liters 324 liters

$ $ $ Sales: Mobile ( 0.40c per 500ml) 132 188 180 Counter (0.50c per 508 640 48 236 99 279 500ml)

Direct Costs Farmer Pay-outs 269 123 222 Wages 210 210 210 Sachets 54 25 45 Culture 20 20 20 Firewood & other lighting 21 21 21 costs Detergents 5 579 5 404 5 523 Contribution 61 -168 -244

Other Operating Costs Electricity 30 30 30 Water 15 15 15 Transport costs 16 16 16 ZADF subscriptions 20 20 20

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Dairy Services 3 3 3 subscriptions Repairs and 5 5 5 maintenance Stationery 3 3 3 Motor Vehicle 5 5 5 Licensing Airtime 1 98 1 98 1 98

Net Profit (Loss) -37 -266 -342 Partial Balance Sheet 2 Current Assets Current Liabilities Trade Debtors 226.00 Staff salaries 2,090.00 Loan to member (Vahera) 100.00 Zinwa 321.00 Loan to member 3,200.00 Packaging 970.00 (Chiuswa) Cash on hand 20.00 Members Loans 500.00 Subscriptions 220.00 (Cattle bank-advance payment) 3,881.00 3,766.00

The program recommended implementation of the following activities to improve the operations of the MCC:  Basic budgeting skills need to be acquired by the management committee so revenue and costs can be properly managed.  The MCC’s debt collection policy needs to be revised to allow timely collection and settlement. Current debts are $3,766 and the MCC owes two of its employees $2,090 in wage arrears.  Basic management accounts must be prepared monthly to assist management in timely decision making. The program advised the MCC to investigate whether Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers provides accounting services to members.  Shurugwi Dairy Management Committee must maintain an updated fixed assets register to prevent loss or abuse of the MCC assets. The program will follow-up and assist in this regard.  Shurugwi Dairy must appoint qualified personnel to run the MCC’s accounts. The current administrator requires further training in bookkeeping skills. The program will train committee members and staff on proper recordkeeping skills.

Gokwe Dairy Cooperative Society (GDCS): The program supported Gokwe Dairy Cooperative Society in conducting elections as per the constitution and selecting new executive management committee members. The program is providing guidance to the new members on what is expected of their new roles. The committee implemented the program recommendation to increase milk volumes by accepting milk from non Gokwe Dairy Cooperative Society members provided quality standards are met. The program continues to assist Gokwe Dairy in the implementation of Pastel Evolution accounting system. Updates are ongoing in the following modules: general ledger, cashbook, debtors and creditors, which are currently maintained in manual accounting records. Takawira Dairy Association: Farmers are currently selling individually at farm gate and into local markets as no large buyer of milk has been identified yet. The program is working on partnering farmers with a milk processor to set up a processing plant at the MCC. Executive committee members received training on governance and management skills.

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4. ENVIRONMENT

This section summarizes Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s environmental mitigation and adaptation interventions, particularly as they relate to climate change. The program seeks to enhance environmental stewardship with regular assessments of beneficiary activities, trainings aimed at fostering good environmental care, reduction in environmental damage, and improvements in the personal safety of farmers through safe use of chemicals, PPE, and safe disposal of used chemical containers. Commercialization underpins all program activities, and therefore the environment strategy focuses on profitable and sustainable agricultural production, which in itself is a key adaptation to climatic change. In addition, all program activities are based on good animal, agricultural, and business practices that have positive environmental outcomes and are designed to minimize and/or mitigate any negative effects on the environment. All program interventions are screened for compliance with US government and Zimbabwean environmental, agrochemical, and food safety regulations and are designed to have a positive impact on the environment. Specific NRM related activities in the reporting period included: Rotational overnight or moveable pens

Although cattle confinement overnight in small pens is an age old tradition practiced by farmers, it has negative consequences in wet weather as it predisposes cattle to foot rot disease. The program observed that cattle kept in muddy pens have longer calving intervals and tend to lose weight despite improved rangeland condition. Thus the program is advocating for farmers to adopt overnight paddocks during wet conditions, as these provide ample space and comfort in wet weather. Farmers who adopted overnight paddocking instead of penning cattle in muddy conditions have reported reduced Photo by Fintrac Inc. incidence of the foot rot disease. A fenced overnight pen in the paddocks to prevent muddy conditions being experienced this season. The program also encourages beneficiaries to have more than one pen or to have overnight paddocks to ensure rotation in case one becomes muddy. Rotational overnight pens were promoted in all program areas to ensure cattle were more comfortable and less susceptible to foot rot. In addition, moveable pens help break the fly breeding cycle and minimize foul odors that characterize overnight pens under muddy conditions. In Midlands province, 58 rotational pens were constructed by farmers during the review period.

Pollution

To protect the environment, farmers were advised to consider suitable disposal of potentially hazardous chemical pesticides and insecticides. If chemicals are disposed of incorrectly there can be serious consequences. Dominant chemicals used by beneficiary livestock farmers consist of Amitraz for ticks and Carbaryl for fall armyworm and other crop pests. Farmers were advised to completely destroy empty chemical containers to avoid reuse. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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Farmers were trained on using personal protective clothing to guard against health and safety risks during their operations. Wearing work suits and gumboots minimizes injuries and illnesses that may arise from chemical contamination from spillage and handling during dipping, and spraying of pesticides. PPE trainings in all program areas revealed that most farmers are ignorant of the dangers they expose themselves to by not wearing PPE during application of chemicals such as acaricides to cattle. Fly control Flies are a major problem in overnight pens, feedlots, milking parlors, and calf pens; and the challenge is greater when the cattle facilities are sited close to homesteads. The program is promoting the use of home-made but effective fly traps. All the centers of excellence have fly traps as a demonstration to other local farmers. These fly traps are made from cheap and locally available used 2-liter plastic containers and a string. During technical assistance visits, farmers were assisted in constructing simple fly traps that are placed at dish washing sites, close to toilet facilities, and overnight pens. The simple homemade fly trap is effective due to its bait of decomposing matter and being placed in strategic locations. The container traps the flies, which are lured by the putrefying food source. The program advises farmers to clean and reset the fly trap when it is full of flies. The adoption rate of the technology in Chipinge, as measured in the first round of the AHS, is at 40 percent of beneficiary households. Training on the importance of fly traps was done in all three Matabeleland districts during the quarter, targeting to improve hygiene at each beneficiary’s household. At first most farmers were skeptical about this simple, low-cost method of trapping flies, but are now impressed by its efficacy. In Nkayi district lead farmers Micah Ncube, Rebecca Masango, and Maggie Ndlovu adopted the fly trap technology during the quarter. Masango recommended the technology as a good hygienic practice since she sells milk at her homestead. In Hwange district six farmers adopted the simple fly trap technology and they have mounted them at strategic points around their homesteads. Tree planting The program promoted the establishment of fruit and forage trees in all Chipinge focus areas. Promoted forage trees were Faidherbia albida, mulberry, Leucaena, and cactus, which are adapted to a diverse range of soil and climatic conditions. Some of the trees were planted in nurseries while others were directly planted in situ. During the reporting period, 250 mulberry trees; 100 Faidherbia trees; 40 Leucaena trees and 200 cactus plants were planted in orchards and/or as hedges surrounding Chipinge homesteads. Morgan Mavharingana of Manzvire in Ward 22 planted more than 100 Faidherbia and mulberry trees around his homestead this season alone. Five farmers, three lead, in Nkayi district planted 164 fruit trees during the quarter, mainly mulberry and mango. Farmers took advantage of the good rains, and most of the planted trees have already rooted and are producing leaves. However, some farmers such as Eleck Mabhena and Samson Dube are facing challenges from termites; to address this issue the program is recommending the use of Imidacloprid. Soil erosion Farmers in all program areas faced serious erosion challenges from recent heavy rains. The program advised farmers to construct storm drains to direct the water flow away from vulnerable areas.

Farmers were also encouraged to plant Star, couch, Kikuyu, and vetiver grasses along drainage lines as they are all deep rooted, tough, and perennial. Planting of grass along waterways anchors and protects the top soil. Farmers were urged to continue maintaining culverts and tracks to minimize the erosive power

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of runoff water. Zero tillage was another method used to lessen soil erosion as no till and residue left on the soil surface are effective at reducing sheet and rill erosion. The program trained 377 farmers on soil erosion mitigation methods during the period under review compared to 99 in the previous period (Table 4.1.2).

4.1 TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

The program trained 1,035 beneficiaries, 43 percent women, on environmental subjects during the review period, more than double the figure for the last quarter (Table 4.1.1). Due to the heavy rains experienced in all areas and the likelihood of high incidences of diseases in both livestock and crops, soil conservation and erosion protection; PPE; safe disposal of chemicals and orchard establishment, became major training and discussion topics with beneficiary farmers (Table 4.1.2). Table 4.1.1: Environment training by District, Q2 FY2017 October - December, 2016 January- March, 2017 District Female Male Total % Women Female Male Total % Women Chipinge 22 15 37 59 95 111 206 46 Chirumhanzu 33 32 65 51 69 121 190 36 Gokwe South 30 32 62 48 97 118 215 45 Gweru 14 16 30 47 14 18 32 44 Hwange 22 20 42 52 20 16 36 56 Kwekwe 18 21 39 46 44 54 98 45 Lupane 12 18 30 40 30 43 73 41 Nkayi 7 12 19 37 26 32 58 45 Shurugwi 27 62 89 30 18 45 63 29 Umzingwane 16 17 33 48 37 27 64 58 Grand total 201 245 446 45 450 585 1,035 43 Source: CIRIS The majority of the beneficiaries (66 percent) were trained on safe use and disposal of pesticides and awareness of the requirement to wear PPE when handling chemicals (Table 4.1.2). This training was necessitated by; the reality that tick infestation was high due to the lush vegetation; incessant heavy rains that washed the dips off the animals and diluted chemicals in most communal dip tanks; and the high demand for pest and disease control on field crops. Tick control remained one of the most important GAHP message across all program areas during the review period. Frequent dipping at communal dip tanks; on farm control with PERSUAP compliant acaricides using knapsack sprayers; pour on dips and injectable acaricides such as Ivermectin to kill ticks and worms (internal and external) was promoted. In addition farmers were encouraged to counter diseases prevalent during the rainy season such as blackleg and lumpy skin by treating secondary bacterial infections in affected herds using Procaben® antibiotic. Farmers were urged to institute their own spraying regimes to control ticks on their livestock and were trained to undertake these operations correctly and responsibly for maximum effect. Table 4.1.2: Environment training by Subject, Q2 FY2017 Subject October - December, 2016 January- March, 2017 Female Male Total % Women Female Male Total % Women

Afforestation 57 40 97 59 22 28 50 44 Climate Change 11 11 22 50 65 82 147 44 Personal Protective 107 128 235 46 202 269 471 43 Equipment Pollution 17 16 33 52 21 51 72 29 Safe Disposal of 87 138 225 39 223 346 569 39

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Chemicals Soil Erosion 37 62 99 37 154 223 377 41 Woodlot/Orchard 8 22 30 27 185 224 409 45 Establishment Source: CIRIS Aspects of safe handling, use and disposal of chemicals also became pertinent as the program was promoting herbicides to effectively control weeds and zero till to establish both fodder and food crops in the face of the incessant rains. 4.2 EMMP

The program monitored the progress of a random sample of 140 beneficiary household farms belonging to 100 beef and 40 dairy households to assess for EMMP compliance. The data was collected in February and March 2017. The following sections summarize the findings from the assessments on topics covering: animal husbandry, animal health, and animal handling facilities. 4.2.1. Animal Husbandry Activities Table 4.2.1: Animal Husbandry Activities % % % % % % FY2017 FY2017 Baseline FY2016 Baseline FY2016 Activity Round 1 Round 1 Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Beef Beef Dairy Dairy Beef Dairy Are the breeds adapted to 100 100 99 100 100 100 the area? Are handling facilities appropriate and /or 36 89 47 29 82 72 adequate? Is soil erosion a problem? 46 28 52 29 6 21 Are there signs of land 68 78 60 47 63 21 degradation/overgrazing? Are there signs of 56 61 39 35 50 26 deforestation? Is grazing management being 26 33 37 20 27 31 practiced? Does the farmer have a 9 44 55 47 50 72 woodlot/tree planting area? Source: CIRIS During the cropping season, farmers generally neglect livestock activities in favor of placing maximum focus on crops. The incessant rains exacerbated weed, nutrition, and disease challenges in crops, leaving farmers with minimal time for animal husbandry activities. Practices such as construction, maintenance and provision of safe and adequate overnight pens thus received little attention. The heavy rains resulted in muddy overnight pens, which predispose cattle to foot rot resulting in lameness, thus affecting normal grazing and Photo by Fintrac Inc. breeding. Cattle are reluctant to lie down in Cattle in Ward 23, Shurugwi district standing in a wet pen, which does not afford them an opportunity to rest and also exposes them to foot rot. Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 52 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 the muddy pens overnight, hence spend valuable grazing time resting. In addition, farmers were releasing their cattle for grazing later in the day. Farmers were advised to treat foot rot with Hi-Tet® antibiotic, construct relief pens and paddocks, and backfilling pens with sand. There was also an increase in soil erosion problems, as a result of the heavy rains, but the good grass growth in the rangeland led to a decrease in the signs of overgrazing. The good growth in the rangeland also tended to lessen the evidence of deforestation. In Chipinge trees had recovered as it was no longer necessary to pollard since the drought was over. The rains also provided the opportunity for farmers to plant trees and it is notable from Table 4.2.1, the increase in the number of farmers who have tree planting areas. 4.2.2: Animal Health Activities

Table 4.2.2: Animal Health Activities % % % % % % FY2017 FY2017 Baseline FY2016 Baseline FY2016 Activity Round 1 Round 1 Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Beef Beef Dairy Dairy Beef Dairy Farmers using dips/chemical 100 100 93 94 100 100 remedies? Farmers/Institutions using 78 100 89 82 100 97 appropriate techniques/equipment? Farmers/Institutions with PPEs and 58 89 79 65 88 82 use it when spraying? Farmers/Institutions having dosing 30 56 56 35 44 72 and vaccination records up to date? Farmers/Institutions having mastitis N/A N/A N/A 0 38 26 treatment records up to date? Farmers/Institutions engaging a 5 78 54 20 69 54 trained applicator? Farmers/Institutions with 67 83 76 56 75 85 chemicals/spraying equipment locked and in labelled containers? Farmers/Institutions disposing 76 100 84 65 100 100 chemical containers, injections, plastics correctly Farmers/Institutions with adequate 100 100 95 100 100 95 and potable water available when pesticides are used? Farmers/Institutions using 83 100 81 82 100 87 pesticides that are PERSUAP complaint?

The heavy rains this summer brought with them a proliferation of pests and diseases in both livestock and field crops, which farmers battled to contain. This, coupled with the high workload on farmers at the time, contributed to the decrease in most of the EMMP pesticide related indicators in the beef sector. Almost all farmers had good crops this year, so most were using pesticides, some of them incorrectly. In addition, the proliferation of fall armyworm, which is resistant to most PERSUAP, approved pesticides, led to increased use of non-compliant materials, advocated by government and

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 53 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 private sector extension agents, or supplied under cotton growing contracts. In Manicaland, farmers use mostly non-PERSUAP compliant pesticides to control pests in cotton, and also traders from Mozambique are selling cheaper but non-PERSUAP compliant pesticides, hence the decrease in compliance noted in the beef sector.

Dairy farmers, of necessity, could not neglect cattle related duties, so maintained most of their activities at previous levels, with the exception of mastitis records, which were neglected due to the high workload in cropping20. In addition, the resistance of blue ticks to most of the PERSUAP compliant acaricides resulted in desperate farmers resorting to non-compliant products with higher toxicity profiles. The program, however, will continue to explore possible solutions such as combinations with injectable acaricides. 4.2.3: Animal Handling Facilities Table 4.2.3: Animal Handling Facilities % % FY2017 % FY2017 % FY2016 % Baseline % FY2016 Baseline Round 1 Round 1 Activity Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Practice- Beef Dairy Dairy Beef Beef Dairy Farmers with handling 86 86 78 87 100 87 facilities sited >30m from dwellings Farmers/Institutions with 95 100 96 93 100 90 water runoff from facilities diverted away from dwellings Farmers/institutes with 95 100 86 92 100 97 water source (borehole, well) >30m from livestock facilities Farmers/Institutions with 75 100 77 46 94 95 separate access to water for humans and animals Farmers/Institutions with 32 13 23 23 0 33 area around water source degraded Farmers/Institutions with 79 82 55 100 71 28 running /adequate water in the toilets Farmers/ using fly traps 5 56 58 7 40 74 Farmers/Institutions with 71 64 80 73 100 82 adequate waste handling facilities in place

Farmers typically consider security of their livestock as the highest priority when siting overnight pens and therefore want them as close to the homesteads as possible to prevent incidences of stock theft or predation hence ignoring environmental considerations. However, the program continues to promote proper consideration of environmental hazards by farmers when siting cattle handling facilities. In Manicaland cattle pens are being moved closer to homesteads mainly because of increased incidences of cattle theft and predation by lions. Cattle theft affected program beneficiaries in Chipinge’s wards, 22

20 Dosing is done twice per season at the beginning and end of the rains while mastitis monitoring is almost a daily routine.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 54 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #2 FY2017 and 25. In Ward 25 Anna Chitsamba lost two oxen to thieves. Lions are also a serious challenge around Birchenough, Tanganda, and Mutema areas in wards 1, 3, and 4. Some of the new pens that were constructed as relief pens and in response to the threat of theft and lions did not have proper drainage. The heavy rainy season has filled up numerous water bodies, which has meant that farmers have not had to walk their cattle long distances to water points. However, more farmers have been using the same sources as their livestock for water, in preference to walking long distances to local boreholes, hence the decrease in separate access to water sources. Farmers in Ward 24 of Chipinge, for example, do not have a separate water source with their cattle as they all drink from Save River. The program is encouraging beneficiaries to treat the water for household use. The heavy rains this season have also caused a proliferation of fly infestations and there has been wide adoption of the low-cost fly traps using discarded plastic bottles, particularly by dairy farmers. All farmers who have implemented the fly traps are pleased with the results; however, there have been some challenges with the traps filling up with rain water, diminishing their effectiveness. Efforts by the program to promote proper and adequate waste handling facilities are bearing positive results especially among beef farmers. The program is promoting safe disposal of non-biodegradable and human waste to minimize incidences of poisoning and beef measles as these negatively impact on returns for cattle value.

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5. GENDER

During the quarter under review, the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program continued to promote the inclusion of women and youth in economic opportunities along the beef and dairy value chains. The program reached out to 1,201 beneficiary farmers, 46 percent women, with gender technical assistance messages.

The program dedicated the whole month of March 2017 to celebrating the successes and achievements of women and youth beneficiaries under the International Women’s Day21 theme, Be Bold for Change. Activities included messages on promoting women and youth inclusion in household nutrition and food security; showcasing successes of women in beef and dairy production; and training on farming as a family business.

Three field days, hosted by successful women livestock farmers participating in the program, were held in Chipinge, Gokwe, and Nkayi as part of these celebrations (Annex 1 – Celebrating the Success of Women in Livestock Production). Photo by Fintrac Inc. Evelyn Mazuva and Dorica Muchinani celebrating IWD Eight key front line program staff participated in a at a field day in Ward 4, Chipinge. five day Gender Master Training workshop that was organized and hosted by the USAID-funded ENSURE program in Masvingo. The event was attended by participants from selected USAID-funded programs. This provided participants an opportunity to not only collaborate, learn, and adapt on gender issues but on other programmatic areas. Participants shared experiences and strategies on women empowerment such as access and control of income, productive assets and resources; increase in cattle ownership by women; male champions; and outcome mapping. The program continued to receive support from key stakeholders championing gender issues at all levels. At farm level, staff from Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender, and Community Development (MWAGCD), Ministry of Youth, AGRITEX and DLPD were involved in community trainings, while higher offices of the district administrator and provincial offices and partners attended field day events. 5.1 GENDER MAINSTREAMING

The program integrates gender and youth inclusion in all program activities to reduce gender disparities. Monthly gender messages were shared with stakeholders and farmers during field days, and technical training sessions to increase gender awareness. The topics covered during the review period included gender issues in household nutrition and food security and celebrating the transformative success of women in beef and dairy production through field and technical days throughout March 2017. Table 5.1 summarizes monthly gender activities, topics and messages shared with farmers:

21 International Women’s Day is celebrated on the 8th of March every year worldwide in recognition of the critical and important roles women play in the social, political, economic and spiritual development of the human race.

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Table 5. 1 Monthly Gender Activities, Topics, and Messages January – March 2017 Gender Gender and Youth Month Outcomes Topic messages Gender and  Under nutrition and One thousand one hundred and twenty-six beneficiary farmers of which 539 (48 percent) were women, youth inclusion malnutrition primarily affect attended the household nutrition and gender empowerment message campaigns. Highlights include: issues in children and women. January 2017 household food • Virginia Moyo of Kwekwe defied existing norms and now has three of the seven family cattle nutrition and  Pregnant and lactating women registered in her name. She also expanded her food production area to a hectare of food crops and security farmers require balanced and intends to sell the surplus. Moyo legally challenged her husband for ownership of cattle after he additional food intake and became involved in a polygamous relationship and was denying her access to and control of the more time to relax and obtain family herd to produce food for her family. According to Moyo her social status has improved and the extra nutrients required she is encouraged by gender equality messages from the program. Neighboring women farmers now for a healthy pregnancy and consult Moyo for livestock advice. She has embraced farming as a family business approach and breastfeeding. allows her husband unlimited access to the family herd awarded in her custody for him to produce Gender and food. youth inclusion  Empowering women and • In January 2017, Siphephisiwe Nkomo of Ngombane village from Ward 8 in Lupane district is one of issues in February 2017 youth to make free and the women who adopted the use of a non-selective herbicide Glyphosate as part of conservation household food informed decisions on food tillage and labor saving technology. Nkomo applied Glyphosate on 0.5 hectares of weed infested nutrition and and fodder production is land with no mechanical disturbance of the soil thereby minimizing soil erosion from the heavy rains. security critical in improving food Nkomo planted 0.4 hectares of velvet beans and 0.1 hectares of Lablab during the wet spell, security and nutrition in something she could not have achieved using conventional methods of land preparation. Nkomo has households. managed to establish 1.1 hectares of forage crops for her eight animals.  Twenty-eight year old Tariro Wurayayi from Ward 23 in Shurugwi district paid for his college tuition from proceeds of pen fattening of two cattle he had received from his parents. All project activities in March 2017 highlighted women success in beef and dairy production, culminating in three high profile field days in Chipinge, Gokwe South, and Nkayi hosted by women lead farmers Sunungurayi Gadha, Lucia Zvidzayi, and Rhoda Masuku, running under the IWD theme # Be bold For Change (See Annex 1: Celebrating Women Successes in Livestock Production). Celebrating the Creating spaces to show case

transformative and celebrate the transformative  Lead farmer Maggie Ndlovu of Pawu village, in Nkayi district showcased her success in fodder success of women success in livestock production during a field day, running under the theme A Woman is a Deep Gorge for Knowledge. The 18 March women in production in line with the women beneficiaries, who attended, actively participated at the event sharing technical knowledge on livestock commemoration of International beef livestock production; child health care and maternal health; and sanitation. production Women’s (IWD) day  Rhoda Masuku of Nkuba village in Nkayi is among the few farmers who have adopted the rangeland management plan. The farmer converted her farming land into grazing lands by sub-dividing it into three paddocks. Currently the paddocks have abundant grass and are also secured for lean season grazing. Masuku adopted paddocking two years ago, and managed to incorporate other grass species such as the thatching grass. Since 2015, she has not lost any of her animals to poverty related deaths.

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5.1.1. Gender and Youth Inclusion Awareness During the review period, program field staff, DLPD officers and other stakeholders in program focus areas received at least one gender and youth field support visit and basic gender and social inclusion training to increase their appreciation of gender equity and equality. Comfort Mudhimbu, 22 years old, is one of the 30 AI service providers trained by the program during the review period. Under the supervision of ABS-TCM, Mudhimbu assisted in the insemination of four cows in Shurugwi district, enabling him to gain the proficiency that is required in AI service provision. Mudhimbu is one of the AI service providers earmarked to sustain the practice when the program closes in 2020. 5.2 GENDER TRAININGS

The program trained beneficiaries on four broad gender topics: gender mainstreaming; Photo by Fintrac Inc. women and youth empowerment; gender Comfort Mudhimbu proudly displaying his certificate concepts; leadership and conflict resolution. of competency in AI. During the review period, 1,087 farmers, 47 percent women, participated in the women and youth empowerment trainings compared to 716 farmers in the previous period (Table 5.2). The proportion of women participating in the empowerment, leadership and conflict resolution trainings increased. Transformative gender empowerment comes from women and youth taking up leadership positions to positively influence policies that impact on their Table 5.2: Gender and Youth Training by Subject, Q2 FY2017 October- December, 2016 January- March, 2017 Training Subject F M Total % Female F M Total % Female Gender Mainstreaming 10 8 18 56 8 10 18 44 Women and Youth 320 396 716 45 507 580 1,087 47 Empowerment Gender Concepts 232 266 498 47 278 339 617 45 Leadership and Conflict 22 41 63 35 15 23 38 39 Resolution Other[1] - - - 66 91 157 42 socio, political, spiritual and economic lives, in addition to having access and full control of resources required for this transformation. 5.3 MEASURING GENDER IMPACT AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

During the review period, 42 percent of the farmers who benefited from program activities were women (Table 3.1.3). The program is helping women and youth to position themselves for a more positive future by increasing their access to markets and credit; control over assets, markets, and income; and participation in the livestock value chains. The program approach is holistic, also encompassing nutrition, WASH and environmental issues.

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This quarter, the program trained and assisted 669 unique beneficiaries on AI, 33 percent women. Yeyani Tshuma from Ward 17 in Hwange, Matabeleland North is leading the adoption of GAHPs in her area after committing two of her cows for AI. Tshuma has volunteered her herd to be used by the program as a demonstration unit for training. Tshuma also produced a good velvet bean fodder crop for feed formulation demonstrations. Fungai Dzingirai became the first female participant from Chirumhanzu district to register for training as an AI service provider. Dzingirai’s husband, Makota Pilot, strongly supported her enrollment. “I am sure my wife would be a better candidate for the course since she has more passion for livestock than I do,” he said. “The program has taught us to support our partners. Previously, as men we would always take the lead but I have learned that we should let our wives lead where they are better than us.” Makota made these remarks in discussion with other farmers. Photo by Fintrac Inc. Gladys Moyo from Lupane district in her weed free Zondiwe Sithole from Nkayi district was also maize after using Stella Star. encouraged to take up the AI service provider training by her husband. “My husband encouraged me to attend the upcoming training at Matopos Research Station, so I will go.” By supporting their partners, Makota and Sithole serve as male champions promoting women participation in livestock activities. Dzingirai and Sithole are part of the 142 AI trained service providers. Gladys Moyo, a local councilor from Ward 8 in Lupane district purchased Stellar Star® to control early and post emergent annual grasses and broad leaf weeds, on her maize crop. Effectively controlling the weeds enabled her to save money, and have more time to attend to her family and other productive activities. In Chipinge district, 23-year-old Tatenda Kozanai of Matandana village in Ward 4 established a successful velvet bean crop intercropped with forage sorghum for feeding his three cattle during the lean period. In Chipinge district, women who participated in the December 2016 feedlot cycle and direct marketing in March 2017, invested incomes from the sales in heifers and cows to grow and improve their herds. Jenifer Nzuzu and Rosemary Chiwaya purchased three improved heifers. Photo by Fintrac Inc. Kondo feedlot group chair Angeline Garwe from Tatenda Kozanai from Chipinge district in his Chipinge district, used her net income of $1,342 velvet bean crop. received from the sale of her three cull cattle to buy two Brahman heifers for $800 and a scotch cart frame for $150. Garwe also invested $200 on an improved kitchen and used the balance to pay school fees for her five children and buy food for the family.

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The program has set a life of program (LOP) target of at least 50 percent female beneficiaries. Ongoing staff training and gender awareness sensitization will assist the program in realizing this target. The campaigns aim to change cultural and traditional beliefs regarding women’s ownership and control of cattle. 5.4 LEADERSHIP

GNDR3: Percent of female program beneficiaries in relevant leadership positions The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program aims to strengthen female leadership in the livestock sector to create sustainable networks of female farmers. To achieve inclusive livestock production, the program supports women in leadership and grooms more women to assume leadership positions. Through training and increasing gender awareness among community leaders and beneficiary farmers, women now occupy 50 percent of leadership positions22 in community-based organizations working with the program. Female farmers are either lead farmers hosting centers of excellence or hold office within farmer groups (MCCs, pen fattening groups, and producer associations). Although sociocultural barriers in livestock ownership and production affect women participation and decision making, the program continued to engage men and women livestock farmers to support behavior change from the home and support women leadership in producer groups. Victoria Pencil from Ward 29, Chipinge district, started working with the program in October 2016. After attending a training session in Ward 26, Pencil invited the program to work in her area realizing that program activities could benefit her community. She now is a lead farmer and chairperson of Deruko Feedlot group. With the full support of her husband Norman Deruko, who is a headman, 35 year old Pencil, is attending school together with her children to sit for her ordinary level examinations in November 2017; recently coordinated the piloting of AI in the area and is hosting velvet bean, Napier fodder and sunn hemp demonstration plots. 5.5 ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, FINANCE, CREDIT, AND MARKETS

Technical assistance and training focused on providing skills to women and youth to engage and productively contribute to beef and dairy production. 5.5.1 Access to Technology Results from the first round of the AHS indicate that 43 percent of adopters of technologies were women. The program identifies and promotes affordable women-and youth-friendly technologies that save on labor and increase participation and productivity in livestock production. For this reporting period, the focus was on reducing labor input by women during the rainy season by identifying labor saving technologies that reduce labor in food and fodder production. Farmers were encouraged to use the following: Herbicides The program promoted and trained farmers to utilize herbicides such as Stellar Star® to control weeds in maize, thus lowering labor costs and reducing drudgery. The technology is gender friendly, given that mainly women are involved in the back-breaking chore of hand weeding. The herbicide technology was critical this quarter where incessant rains rendered manual weed control ineffective.

22 Baseline figure was 36 percent and LOP target is 50 percent.

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Stellar Star® and Servian® were used in maize crops by three farmers in Chipinge on 1.5 hectares. Both Stellar Star and Servian were used late, when weeds were no longer tender but the results were still impressive and farmers started inquiring about the herbicides. In Musikavanhu irrigation scheme Block 2, Servian® was used on Cyperus rotundus (Purple nutsedge), which spreads rapidly through rhizomes when the upper part is disturbed by weeding using hoes. Herbicides proffered a labor saving and very effective option for the control of this invasive weed. Photo by Fintrac Inc. Herbicide technology can save both time Siphephisiwe Nkomo’s velvet bean fodder crop planted with and energy and contribute to increased no till as a way of minimizing labor, erosion and protecting income by allowing women meaningful the environment (See Table 5.1). involvement in the farm enterprise, more time for child care, and better health. Cattle races The program continued to encourage beneficiary farmers to construct gender friendly cattle handling facilities. As a result, women and youth are able to handle cattle when artificially inseminating, deworming, and spraying for controlling ticks. During the review period 155 farmers (44 percent women) were given technical assistance on construction of cattle handling facilities compared to 89 farmers in the previous quarter. 5.5.2 Access to Finance and Credit The program’s internal savings and lending group model continued its focus on leveraging women economic opportunities and addressing social based constraints. Trainings and technical assistance were provided on basic accounting and calculation of interest on group savings and loans. The program is working with 11 ISAL groups that saved and distributed on average $600 as loans to group members each month this quarter. The loans were used for livestock activities and household income generating projects. Group members have realized that these savings are necessary for accessing money to invest in livestock projects. Gweremwezhe Ruth of Ward 6 Kwekwe district, Midlands province, received $250 from the Green Valley ISAL group, which she used to buy stock feed for her chicken project. In Chipinge district the Dzidzai group collectively purchased one animal for $260, which they intend to pen fatten and generate more income from the project. 5.5.3 Access to Markets Montana Carswell, Koala Park, Heads and Hooves, and Sabie Meats remained the main markets for beef cattle sales. From Table 3.1.3, 15 percent of the 39 beef farmers who were linked to formal markets were women. Twenty-nine percent of the 49 dairy farmers who were linked to formal markets were women. Overall, 23 percent of the 88 farmers who were linked to formal beef and dairy markets were women.

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5.6 STRENGTHENING WOMEN AND YOUTH THROUGH GROUPS

The program is promoting ISALs mainly among women beneficiaries as part of the empowerment process to overcome gender-based constraints and mobilize resources for farming activities. The groups received basic ISAL and business skills trainings. During the quarter, 690 women were trained on business skills.

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6. LESSONS LEARNED

During the review period the following lessons were learned:  As more beneficiaries adopt the group marketing model direct to formal markets, abattoirs and cattle middlemen in Chipinge have been aligning their activities to match the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s marketing initiatives.  Collaborating, cooperating, and sharing experiences with other development organizations continues to be extremely beneficial and important. Developmental organizations in Chipinge district are concentrating on developing markets for other livestock value chains as they acknowledge that beef cattle’s marketing is adequately covered by the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program.  Creating extra incomes for smallholder farmers stimulates adoption of GAHPs that improve productivity and profitability – “showing the farmer the path to the money”. Late adopters catch on when they observe early participants increasing incomes through program interventions, which results in the adoption process being self-driven.  It is difficult to convince farmers who are used to selling their cattle locally to sell directly to abattoirs and other formal markets. However, once the farmers see the comparatively higher incomes, the formal market becomes their preferred choice.  Cash challenges are ongoing; hence farmers should adapt to embrace electronic mobile banking. There is need to demystify electronic banking and use of plastic money. The program will continue to train farmers on the use of electronic banking to avoid the cash crises and the safety and convenience that it brings.  Sustainable, profitable smallholder milk marketing into the formal market is complex requiring an approach that commercializes each marketing function at the small scale level. The program will continue to identify players at the smallholder dairy farmer level willing to participate in this commercialization process.  It is possible to implement a successful AI program in communal areas especially during the summer season when issues of cow and or bull isolation, observation of heat, and cattle nutrition are feasible riding on the inherent custom of herding cattle during this time.

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7. CHALLENGES

As lessons were learned, challenges also became apparent.  Incessant rains caused both production and marketing challenges: o Establishment of pasture and fodder crops - germination of small seeded fodder grasses was severely affected. Weed control, leaching, and waterlogging were major challenges in fodder crops that depressed yields. Going forward, dry or early planting and planting on raised beds in areas susceptible to waterlogging will be recommended and use of herbicides will be promoted. o Transport to formal input and output markets - Accessibility challenges arising from the poor state of the roads derailed formal cattle sales off the rangeland. The program will continue to engage with local authorities to improve road networks as well as other cattle marketing infrastructures. o Proliferation of pests and diseases in both livestock and field crops – Going forward, the program will continue training farmers on integrated pest management; safe handling and use of PERSUAP-compliant chemicals; and the use of PPE.  Shortages of foreign currency affected the availability of hormones for use in AI programs delaying the synchronization processes. Using offshore payments will be pursued to ensure timeous availability.  Timeous availability of resources limited farmers with suitable cattle for AI to participate in the program. The program will continue to link farmers with financial institutions to avail credit.  Shortage of cash limited marketing activities (live auctions, direct marketing, feedlots, and formal milk sales). The program will continue to promote and educate farmers on electronic banking systems.

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8. ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR NEXT QUARTER

The main focus during the next quarter will be on fodder and food crop harvesting and preservation. Specific program activities will include:  Providing training and technical assistance to beef and dairy farmers on business skills, farm planning and infrastructure covering paddocks, animal housing and holding pens. Farmer trainings on GAHPs as dictated by the beef and dairy production calendars will continue.  Training farmers on fodder production, harvesting, conservation, and utilization.  Continuing AI activities to take advantage of the improved cow and heifer condition in most program areas and also the abundant feed from the rangeland and crop residues.  Ongoing training and technical assistance on nutrition and WASH; environment and gender. Nutrition will focus on food harvesting, preservation, and storage.  Training lead farmers manning the centers of excellence on their duties and responsibilities.  Identifying and negotiating with technical partners for formal markets for milk and dairy products from smallholder farmers.  Engaging stakeholders to facilitate “ease of doing business” for smallholder farmer livestock marketing through Livestock Indabas at provincial and district levels for Midlands province .  Formulating feeds in conjunction with partner ABS-TCM using locally available resources.  Expanding linkages between beef farmers and abattoirs targeting regular scheduled sales. Capacity development for feeder finance schemes.  Training farmers on fodder and fruit tree management practices in the dry season, focusing more on watering and protection from damage by livestock and termites.  Capacity building of the new MCC leadership committees in Gokwe South, Umzingwane and Shurugwi.  Modifying the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s activity M&E plan with new indicators, including data on baselines and targets in line with the new USAID/Zimbabwe’s CDCS PMP.

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ANNEX 1. SNAPSHOTS

Celebrating the success of women in livestock production

Although women are typically accorded labor intensive roles in livestock production, men traditionally retain ownership, decision making, and control of livestock productivity. This cultural norm is gradually changing, as is shown by lead women farmers such as Sunungurayi Gadha from Chipinge, Manicaland and Lucia Zvidzayi from Gokwe South, Midlands. Gadha and Zvidzayi gained technical knowledge and experience in livestock activities through the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program. The program promotes social inclusion of women and youth in all livestock activities by focusing on five key areas to increase production and productivity i.e. time, knowledge, assets and inputs, profitable markets, and decision making. To acknowledge the work of female beneficiaries and inspire other women in livestock production, the program dedicated March 2017 to highlight beneficiary successes. Celebrated under the International Women’s Day theme Be Bold for Change, female lead farmers including Photo by Fintrac Inc. Gadha and Zvidzayi, hosted field days where they shared their success More female farmers are participating in stories with fellow farmers. livestock activities through the example of female lead farmers. In Gokwe South, Zvidzayi shared the success of the program’s beef-dairy concept that she adopted in November 2016 with 88 field day participants, 43 percent women. The concept enables farmers to begin earning income by milking their beef herds and selling the milk to formal markets. Currently, Zvidzayi is earning $121 per month from milking three beef cows – a more than 700 percent increase from initial earnings of $17. With this increased income, Zvidzayi was able to pay membership dues to join the local milk collection center where she now is selling her milk.

The program’s approach is sustainable “The program’s approach is sustainable because it enlightens us as farmers to be self-reliant and shun away donor syndrome. This model because it enlightens us as farmers to be instills ownership, making an enterprise a sustainable way of smallholder self-reliant and shun away from donor development,” said Zvidzayi. syndrome. This model instills ownership making an enterprise a sustainable way of In Chipinge, Gadha has excelled in both food and fodder crops smallholder development.” production. Since program training, Gadha expects to yield 1.5 tons of forage crops (velvet bean, sunn hemp, forage sorghum and cowpeas) on her 0.5 hectares. Before the program’s intervention, farmers did not value Lucia Zvidzai, supplementary feeding of livestock, hence Gadha’s success spurred fellow Smallholder dairy farmer farmers to follow suit. Both Zvidzai and Gadha commended their spouses for the support and advised other men to give their wives platforms to freely participate in livestock activities, including the decision-making processes. Through training and increasing gender awareness among community leaders and beneficiary farmers, participation of women in program activities has increased to 44 percent since program inception.

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Food preservation techniques help boost dietary diversity and food security

Traditionally, lead farmer Rumbidzai Jerera from Shurugwi, Midlands placed higher importance on cereal food crop production, neglecting other essential food groups. Unknown to Jerera, this practice perpetuated household food insecurity and poor nutrition. Thanks to the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program’s integrated nutrition-sensitive approach to beef and dairy production, Jerera has now learned how to ensure year round nutritional needs for her eight-member household. The nutrition approach encourages beneficiary farmers to consume at least five out of nine food groups such as grains, roots, and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy; organ meats; eggs; meat; dark green vegetables; other vitamin A rich vegetables; and other fruits and vegetables, to ensure household dietary diversity. “We used to think mainly of cereals for our sadza, which is our staple food,” Jerera said. “But through the Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Photo by Fintrac Inc. Development program trainings, we now understand that crops such as Rumbidzai Jerera showcasing some of her dried beans, cowpeas, and pumpkins should be planned for as well, as they are a vegetables. necessity in our diet.” The program trains farmers to calculate their households’ dietary requirements for the year and establish equivalent diverse food crops. After program advice, Jerera intercropped early maturing leafy vegetables such as cowpeas, pumpkin leaves, and beans with her maize crop. In addition, farmers learn low-cost hygienic food preservation techniques to enable access to all food groups during the lean season. Jerera and 16 surrounding farmers were taught drying and proper storage of fruits and vegetables. Farmers learned the blanching process, dipping fruits in lemon, indirect solar drying, covering food while drying, and the use of a simple “We used to think mainly of cereals low-cost solar drier. These techniques help retain higher nutrient value of for our sadza, which is our staple food dried fruits and vegetables. As a result, Jerera harvested and properly but through the Feed the Future preserved 35 kilograms of cowpea leaves, 40 kilograms of spider leaf and Zimbabwe Livestock Development black jack leaves, and 20 kilograms of leafy vegetables. While the produce will cover Jerera’s household needs till the next season, she also has an program trainings, we now understand active 0.01hectare nutrition garden that will provide fresh vegetables. that crops such as beans, cowpeas, Jerera’s family also has access to fresh milk from her two dairy cows. As a and pumpkins should be planned for result of program interventions, Jerera’s household now consumes seven as they are a necessity in our diet.” food groups including grains, roots and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy; eggs; organ meats; other vitamin A-rich vegetables; and other fruits and Rumbidzai Jerera, vegetables. Smallholder dairy farmer Following program interventions, the percentage of households that consistently consume at least five of nine food groups has increased from 7 percent to 50 percent, with a goal of 70 percent by the end of the project.

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Increased income helps smallholder farmer improve household access to safe water

Water is essential for human existence, but for many rural farmers, access to a safe and reliable water source is a major challenge. For nearly a decade, Japhet Chakwamura’s family and livestock from Kwekwe, Midlands had difficulty accessing water from a deep well at their homestead. During the dry season the well would dry up, forcing the family and cattle to search for alternative sources. Often, women uphold the laborious burden of ensuring sufficient household water supply. Limited access can have a negative effect on household nutrition and income. As women spend more time in search of water, food preparations become hasty and meals can be prone to contamination. Livestock productivity also suffers. Water is one of the key nutrients required by livestock. Dairy cow in milk requires 80-120 liters per day Photo by Fintrac Inc. while a beef animal would require 50-60 liters per day depending on the Japhet Chakwamura with his water pump and climate, size of animal and nature of diet. Such huge demands are reservoir. difficult to meet when farmers have to walk long distances to fetch the water. In addition animals require safe/portable water free from pathogenic contaminations which will result in income losses due to animal morbidity, death or product condemnations. The program is encouraging farmers to invest income earned from livestock activities to improve access to safe and reliable water sources. After earning $718 in net income from selling one pen-fattened ox to Montana Carswell Meats in a feedlot venture facilitated by the program, Chakwamura’s fortune changed. The new income provided an opportunity for him to invest $605 in a water reservoir tank and submersible pump for mechanizing his 8-meter deep well. “This program has made my dreams come true. I’ve always wanted a permanent water source that can support agricultural production at my home,” he said. “This investment will surely increase my income.” “This program has made my dreams Now, Chakwamura has a nearby water source for horticultural, come true. I’ve always wanted a livestock, and domestic use. To increase productivity and income- permanent water source that can earning potential from his 12 cattle, he plans to establish paddocks and support agricultural production at my feedlot pens with watering and feeding troughs.. Cattle require an ad home. This investment will surely libitum supply of clean water when they are in these pens.He sustains increase my income.” household dietary diversity by producing a variety of vegetables and crops year round. Japhet Chakwamura, Similarly, dairy farmer Benita Chidhaya in Gokwe South, Midlands is set Smallholder beef-dairy farmer to increase her income from dairy activities after investing $500 in a water pump. Previously, watering her 11 cattle was a laborious task that resulted in reduced yields of 5 liters of milk per cow per day. With her water investment, Chidhaya is set to increase milk yields to 12 liters per cow per day on average. In addition to lowering the risk of household exposure to diarrheal diseases, potable water availability is crucial to commercializing livestock production. The program is working to enhance availability and efficient use of water in livestock activities. Through livestock activities such as pen fattening and market linkages that increase farmers’ incomes, the program encourages farmers to invest in improving livestock and household access to safe water.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 69 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #1 FY2017

Fodder and pasture establishment key to improving livestock productivity

To improve smallholder livestock productivity, farmers must ensure that they have adequate feed reserves for their animals all year round. Lack of planning for the lean season usually results in reduced cattle productivity and losses. The Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program is training farmers on fodder production and pasture establishment as one of the good animal husbandry practices to help them prepare for the feed deficit period usually occurring between September and November. Upholding these practices also improves farmers’ preparedness to other shocks such as drought. Morgan Mavharingana of Chipinge, Manicaland experienced devastating results from this lack of preparedness—he lost 12 cattle to poverty deaths. After receiving program trainings, he became a lead farmer and Photo by Fintrac Inc. adopted fodder production practices. He planted 0.2 hectares of velvet Morgan Mavharingana in his velvet bean crop. bean and 0.3 hectares of sunn hemp using good agricultural practices such as a correct planting date and, spacing; weed control; fertilization; pest control; and seed multiplication. “I expect to harvest 3.5 tons of hay from the protein rich fodder crops and I will use this material together with about 10 tons of crop stover to formulate my own stock feed for my growing cattle herd,” said Mavharingana. Similarly, Lovemore Ncube from Umzingwane, Matabeleland South dedicated 1 hectare to fodder production after learning about the importance of sufficient feed for his dairy herd to increase milk yields. Ncube planted 0.4 hectares each of maize and sorghum for silage, and the remaining 0.2 hectares was planted with velvet beans, cowpeas and sweet sorghum, which he has been cutting as green matter and Thanks to program lessons on fodder “ supplementing to his calves. Currently, Ncube has a dairy herd of 15 and flow planning, l have managed to increase is realizing at least 15 liters a day from five cows. my stock feed source by planting fodder to supplement my cows during the lean “Thanks to program lessons on fodder flow planning, l have managed to increase my stock feed source by planting fodder to supplement my season.” cows during the lean season,” said Ncube. Lovemore Ncube, In addition to encouraging beneficiaries to plant fodder crops as a low- Smallholder beef-dairy farmer cost strategy to ensure availability of feed reserves during the lean season, farmers are also encouraged to establish paddocks and reinforce paddock pastures with nutrient-rich grasses such as Cenchrus, Rhodes grass, and Star grass. In Gokwe South, Midlands, Lucia Zvidzayi established 0.2 hectares of silver leaf and Cenchrus pastures for seed multiplication. Zvidzayi also established 1 hectare of silage maize and sweet sorghum. Between January and March 2017, 974 farmers (45 percent women) received training on fodder production. Across all program areas 359 lead farmers established 167.2 hectares of various fodder crops and pasture grasses.

Prepared by Fintrac Inc. 70 Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development Program | Quarterly #1 FY2017

ANNEX 2. ILLUSTRATIVE INDICATORS

Indicator FY2017 Indicator Baseline Disaggregate Quarter 2 Total Unit Source Target PROGRAM GOAL: SUSTAINABLY REDUCE POVERTY AND IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION FOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN ZIMBABWE 0 Total 3,815 1,054 2,019 Households Number of households benefiting directly 1 EG.3-1 0 Beef 2,250 637 1,329 (New and from USG assistance under FTF Continuing) 0 Dairy 1,565 417 690 Estimated number and percentage of FTF beneficiaries holding 5 hectares or less of 2 LD 15 91 85 8224 82 Percent arable land or equivalent units of livestock (Smallholders)23 76 Overall 52 N/A N/A Prevalence of poverty: Percent of people 3 LD 10 84 Beef 60 N/A N/A Percent living on less than $1.25/day† 60 Dairy 40 N/A N/A Mean percent shortfall relative to the $1.25 4 LD11 45 35 N/A N/A Percent poverty line IR 1: Increased sustainable agricultural production, productivity, and incomes 237.72 Beef 450 N/A N/A 5 Average household agricultural income LD 1 USD 415.22 Dairy 840 N/A N/A Farmer’s gross margin per animal with USG 18.80 Beef 29.27 N/A N/A 6 EG.3-6,7,8 USD assistance 119.49 Dairy 150 N/A N/A 7 Yield per dairy cow LD 5 2.61 6.50 5.13 5.13 Liters/day Sub-IR 1.1: Increased adoption of GAPS and management practices Number of farmers and others who have 8 applied improved technologies or EG.3.2-17 0 2,310 4,113 4,113 Farmers management practices as a result of USG

23 For FTF-LD, the indicator is biased towards livestock; it focuses on households who have 10 or less cattle for beef beneficiaries and 2 or less lactating cows for dairy beneficiaries. 24 Result is based on the first round of the Annual Household Survey (AHS). Final result will be reported after the second round of the AHS in Q4 FY 2017.

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Indicator FY2017 Indicator Baseline Disaggregate Quarter 2 Total Unit Source Target assistance Sub-IR 1.2: Expanded market access and value chain integration Percent of beneficiaries selling at least 80 9 percent of their milk to formal collection LD 6 39 60 24 24 Percent centers Percentage beneficiaries 26 55 33 33 selling cattle Percent of beneficiaries selling at least one 10 LD 7 Percent head of beef cattle annually to formal buyers25 Percentage beneficiaries 41 selling cattle to formal 60 17 17 markets 0.10 Total (Actual Sales) 1.59 N/A N/A Value of smallholder incremental sales with Beef Cattle (live) (Actual 11 EG.3.2-19 0.03 0.66 NA N/A USD Millions USG assistance Sales) 0.07 Dairy (Actual Sales) 0.94 N/A N/A Sub-IR 1.3: Improved NRM Number of individuals who have received 0 Total 4,390 1,910 1,910 Unique 12 USG supported short-term agricultural sector EG.3.2-1 0 Male 2,415 1,100 1,100 Individuals productivity or food security training 0 Female 1,975 810 810 Sub-IR 1.4: Increased access to credit and finance Value of agricultural and rural loans as a result 13 EG.3.2-6 0 0.08 0.007 0.05 USD Millions of USG assistance Number of MSMEs, including farmers, 14 receiving agricultural-related credit as a result EG.3.2-3 0 252 49 222 MSMEs of USG assistance Percent of beneficiaries borrowing at least 15 once to finance purchase of livestock or other LD 8 0 5 2 N/A Percent capital investment IR 2: Improved nutrition and hygiene practices and behaviors (Improved nutrition status) 16 Women’s dietary diversity: Mean number of HL.9.1-c 2.5 3.0 4.1 4.1 Groups

25 Formal markets include Abattoirs, Auctions, Breeders, Butcheries, Traders/Consolidators and Institutions (schools and hospitals).

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Indicator FY2017 Indicator Baseline Disaggregate Quarter 2 Total Unit Source Target food groups consumed by women of reproductive age Prevalence of households with moderate or 17 LD12 39.2 25 15 15 Percent severe hunger Sub-IR 2.1: Improved utilization of nutritious foods Percent of households that consistently 18 LD 2 7 25 40 40 Percent consume at least 5 of 9 food groups Prevalence of children 6-23 months receiving 19 LD 14 1 15 16 16 Percent a minimum acceptable diet Sub-IR 2.2: Improved hygiene behaviors Percent of households that consistently 20 practice at least 4 out of 6 good hygiene LD 3 13 35 29 29 Percent practices Sub-IR 2.3: Increased prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding of 21 LD13 72 72 67 67 Percent children under six months of age IR 3: Increased capacity of local implementing organizations Sub-IR 3.1: Increased effectiveness of agricultural programs by local organizations Number of food security private enterprises (for profit), producer organizations, water users associations, women’s groups, trade and Organizations/ 22 business associations, and community-based EG.3.2-4 0 74 25 41 Associations organizations (CBOs) receiving USG food security related organizational development assistance Number of public-private partnerships formed EG.3.2-5 23 0 5 2 2 PPPs as a result of USG assistance Sub-IR 3.2: Increased adoption of best organizational practices Average change in score on organizational 24 assessment scorecard administered pre- and LD 4 0 15 N/A N/A Percent post-assistance Sub-IR 3.3: Increased private sector investment in agriculture

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Indicator FY2017 Indicator Baseline Disaggregate Quarter 2 Total Unit Source Target Value of new private sector capital investment 25 in the agriculture sector or food chain EG.3.2-22 0 50,000 1,089 5,039 USD leveraged by Feed the Future implementation Additional objectives GNDR3: Percent of female program 26 GNDR 3 36 45 50 50 Percent beneficiaries in relevant leadership positions Percent of beneficiaries who have adopted the

following business practices Develop a budget for each farm enterprise 0 30 16 16 27 LD 9 Percent Track income and expenses in a record book 0 30 16 16 Calculate profit/loss for each major farm 0 30 14 14 enterprise

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ANNEX 3. LIST OF BUYERS

The companies listed in the table below have all been engaged; some expressed an interest to transact and some transacted with Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program beneficiaries in target districts during the year. Contact and Company Products Tel No. Email Title Agri Auctions Beef cattle Witness Sibanda 0772633953 CBS Milk Buhle Nyathi 0771930480 [email protected] CC Sales Beef cattle Richard Wakefield 0712601061 [email protected] Denford Matiringe Dendairy Milk (Bulawayo Milk 0774306108 [email protected] Depot) Gokwe South Milk Elias Chiweshe 0775927631 MCC Mr Dhlodhlo Kershelmar Milk (Procurement 0772252734 [email protected] Manager) Koala Park 0773 477751 Abattoir Beef Cattle Kobus Raath [email protected] 0784844000 Chiredzi Heads and 0779748230 Beef cattle Chris Androliakos Chris [email protected] Hooves 0712211856 Mandigonera Goats Tendai Sixpence 0777167270 [email protected] Enterprises Mhofu Mukaka Milk Mitchelle Viviers Montana Carswell Meats 0771247612 Beef cattle Arthur Rex [email protected] Gokwe & 059-2855 Redcliff Montana Rod Fenell 0773982898 Carswell Meats Beef cattle Craig Green 0772816069 Masvingo Red Tractor 0774101768 Milk Gavin Cantor Dairy 0772831500 Nhliziyoenhle Riverbank Milk 0712380904 Mlalazi Takawira MCC Milk Sarah Ndodha 077378778 Tongogara MCC Milk Magwaza Esau 0713433645 Bulawayo Beef cattle SI Brenner 263 9 [email protected] Abattoirs 400715/403689 Beef cattle & Sabie Meats Neil van der Merwe 0772214116 [email protected] stock feed Umzingwane Milk Sheila Lupuwana 0775559742 MCC

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ANNEX 4. LIST OF INPUT SUPPLIERS

The companies listed in the table below have all been engaged, some expressed an interest to transact and some transacted with Feed the Future Zimbabwe Livestock Development program beneficiaries in target districts during the review period. Company Products Contact and Title Tel No. Email Beef cattle & Sabie Meats Neil van der Merwe 0772214116 [email protected] stock feed Luipaardsvlei Brahman bulls Dawie Joubert 0774334554 [email protected] Brahmans Ecomark & Veterinary Dr. Morgan Matingo 0772282803 [email protected] Coopers supplies Dr. Oswin Choga 0773724088 [email protected] Technical Econet information on Beniah Nyakanda 0774222867 [email protected] Wireless livestock Feed Mix Stock feed Wendy Krog 04-446132 [email protected] Veterinary Dr. Bruce Fivaz 0772189802 [email protected] Fivet supplies John Magasi (sales) 0773582239 [email protected] Lamour Dairy Milk, dairy Gareth Barry 0772260799 [email protected] Products animals Lion Finance Credit Paul Chapataronga 0732100257 [email protected] Maize, pasture, Klein Karoo and vegetable Beauty Magiya 0772339326 [email protected] seed Meadow Feeds Stock feed Mark Androliakos 0712212338 [email protected] Quest Financial Finance James Msipa 0772573276 [email protected] Services 0774164390 UNTU Capital Finance Clive Msipa [email protected] 04332968/308746 Virl Finance Virginia Sibanda 0774391252 [email protected] Microfinance Agrifoods Stock feed Luke Mutemeri 0712632 333 [email protected] 0772148713 National Foods Stock feed Willard Mukondiwa [email protected] 0733400112 Cottco Cotton Motes Mr. Mutauranwa 0773715297 [email protected] Stock feed and Windmill veterinary Claude Ndavambi 0772433496 [email protected] supplies Zimbabwe Farmer 0771564555 Paul Zakariya [email protected] Farmers Union Organization 0771564554

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