THE pig industry in Zimbabwe which has been facing numerous problems since the start of the land reform programme is now beginning to stabilize.
The Pig industry Board (PIB) member Hilton Underson said despite a combination of problems that included disturbances in the fast-track land reform programme, skyrocketing prices of stock feeds, and insufficient training among farmers, the industry is on the up.
More than 200 new farmers, especially those who acquired land under the model A2 scheme have to date ventured into pig rearing.
Hilton said among the problems encountered even before the land reform programme, was the privatization of the country’s main pig buyer Colcom — a move that farmers resisted.
He pointed out that there was a loss of competent pig producers as a result of the land reform programme. “Many new farmers lack training in rearing pigs. This is an area which requires a bit of specialization because of the nature of the venture,” said Hilton.
Hilton said during the height of the farm invasions (in 2003), the sow herd declined to an all time low of 9 000, but in the past year the national sow herd has risen up to 12 000.
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