PREPARATIONS for the livestock conference set for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo have gained momentum with more than 200 delegates expected.
This emerged during an engagement meeting held as part of the planning process for the conference set for March.
The event is being organised by the government in collaboration with the ZITF Company.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry secretary Obert Jiri underscored the need for sustained collaboration between government, industry and technical experts to accelerate growth of Zimbabwe’s livestock sector.
He said the sector remained central to rural livelihoods and national food security, stressing that long-term impact would only be achieved through co-ordinated and sustainable partnerships.
“The transformation of the livestock sector cannot be achieved in isolation,” he said.
“It requires deliberate, sustained collaboration among policymakers, scientists, industry players and farmers.”
Jiri identified genetics, animal health and nutrition as priority areas that should anchor discussions at the conference, adding that technology and climate-smart approaches were no longer
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“Our focus must include improved genetics, robust animal health systems and proper nutrition, while embracing technology integration and climate-smart practices to ensure resilience and productivity,” he said.
He also noted that climate variability continued to threaten livestock production, particularly in semi-arid regions, making innovation and adaptive practices critical.
“We must align our livestock development strategies with climate realities.
“Climate-smart livestock production is key to safeguarding both animals and the livelihoods that depend on them.”
ZITF chief executive Nicholas Ndebele said the livestock conference had proven its relevance following a successful inaugural edition.
“The inaugural livestock conference demonstrated the value of bringing all stakeholders to one platform,” Ndebele said.
“It provided a vital link between farmers and policymakers, ensuring that policy conversations are informed by realities on the ground.”
He added that ZITF would continue to rely on technical expertise to shape the conference agenda.
“As ZITF, we deliberately defer to technical expertise so that the platforms we provide deliver genuine guidance and meaningful community impact.”
Ndebele said the ultimate objective of the conference was to drive tangible improvements in livelihoods, particularly in livestock-dependent regions such as Matabeleland North and South.
“Our goal is transformation. In regions where livestock is a way of life, such as the Matabeleland provinces, we must ensure that interventions translate to improved incomes, resilience and sustainable development.”
The conference, scheduled to run from March 19 to 20, will serve as a strategic platform to align policy, science and industry in order to improve incomes, resilience and sustainable development in communities where livestock production remains a primary economic activity.
