Demand for pork meat and products is now high in the region due to numerous challenges being faced by the farmers.
“Small scale farmers have been hard hit by the drought because they did not harvest anything let alone surplus grain or soya beans to feed the pigs,” said Behkithemba Nyoni, a farmer in Ntabazinduna in Matabeleland North.
Most small scale piggery farmers feed their pigs with soya beans ,maize and water melons which they harvest in their fields.
“Farmers cannot afford the stock feed which is currently going for $820 per ton. Pigs also require clean water and most areas have now run out of water. Drugs for dosing the pigs have also gone up,” said another farmer, Witness Moyo.
Another challenge cited by the farmers is the shortage of good breeds. Genetics are a very important factor in commercial pig breeding.
“Most commercial farmers who used to supply us with good breeds have been chased away from their farms .The only pig breeder I know is Mr Cocks, who is based in Chegutu. It is now very expensive for the farmers to go to Chegutu to buy the breeding pigs,” added another farmer.
Post published in: Agriculture