UNDP Commissions Semen Processing Center to Combat Climate Change Impacts on Communal Farmers

By Andile Mvundla

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Green Climate Fund and the Government, has commissioned a fully equipped semen processing and cryopreservation center.

The center seeks to transform agricultural research and promote climate-smart agriculture by empowering smallholder livestock farmers to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change by having climate resilient herds that are also highly productive.

In an interview on the sidelines of the ceremony yesterday (Saturday) at Matopo Research Institute, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries,Water and rural development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka said that the centre will address the deteriorating numbers of cattle for small holder farmers who have not been spared from the impacts of climate change due to lack of necessary knowledge when it comes to breeding.

“This is one of the challenges that we have been experiencing as a country when it comes to breeding especially in rural areas where the size of the livestock is continuously reducing. This intervention of artificially insemination and decentralisation will enable these areas to be well placed where the need is in communal areas,” said Dr Masuka.

UNDP Resident Representative Dr Ayodele Odusola highlighted that the gene bank will promote production and adoption of indigenous livestock breeds that are adaptable and climate resilient.

“The preservation of diverse livestock genetics will allow for sustainable access to high quality semen beyond the project’s life span, enabling farmers to continuously restock and upgrade their herds,thereby strengthening their resilience against climate change issues,” Dr Odusola said.

Dr Odusola added that not only will the breeding support the food security for the community but will also seek to promote business for farmers.

“There is climate resilience in terms of cattle production and we want to shift cattle rearing from a way of life to a kind of agricultural business so that it can enhance the income of farmers to fend for their families and be able to access affordable herd facilities, ” he said.

Matobo North Member of Parliament, who is also Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable Edgar Moyo applauded the initiative saying it will go a long way in improving the quality of livestock in the region and also ensuring that there is good supportive in terms of food security especially in times of drought that the country is in.

The Green Climate Fund supported initiative which is implemented under the project “Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Zimbabwe,” is the biggest semen processing and cryopreservation centre in Zimbabwe and one of the largest in Africa.

With an annual capacity of producing at least 3 million straws, this state-of-the-art facility is expected to contribute significantly to increasing the national herd from the current 5.7 million cattle to the government’s ambitious target of 11 million cattle by 2030.