It is a great pleasure and honour for me to preside over the official launch of “a cow a family” initiative here at Mpasa in Phalombe district today.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

My Government  is aware of the important role that the livestock sector plays toward the economy of this country, contributing 11% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 38% overall agricultural production to GDP.

The Livestock industry is very important as:

Firstly, it provides food in form of meat, eggs, milk and milk products.  The consumption of these products at household level is the most effective way to reduce incidences of malnutrition.  This is an integral component of food security.

Secondly, Livestock is also a reliable source of income through sales of animals and animal products.

Thirdly, Livestock provides draught power which reduces human drudgery and improves timeliness of farm operations.

In addition livestock provides manure which improves crop yields.

Lastly, Livestock also plays significant social security roles and obligations and many less privileged groups are now mainstreamed in livestock programs and activities.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Currently the livestock industry has registered significant improvement in terms of production, for instance I am informed that cattle population which some 5 to 6 years ago was at 650,000 but has now gone up to 1.2 million.

Three years ago the country had only 3.4 million goats, but the number has currently gone up to over 5.2 million which is a significant increase indeed. The poultry industry has also increased tremendously from 12.8 million chickens in 1996 and has now grown up to 58 million in 2012. Malawi is currently self sufficient in poultry and poultry products.

My Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, will ensure continuity in providing support to livestock production and animal health services. The aim is to sustain growth of the livestock sector through improvement of productivity and control of diseases that limit animal production in this country.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

In line with my vision of improving peoples’ livelihoods and the country’s economic growth and food security, I Initiated the Presidential Initiative on Poverty and Hunger Reduction. Under Presidential Initiative, through Small Stock Project, Government has already distributed 9500 goats and sheep to 156 groups in all the districts across the country.

The “a cow a family” initiative aims at empowering families to own livestock in addition to crop farming.

The programme being launched today is targeting vulnerable households that do not own cattle in the rural areas.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

The programme is targeting  communities and has identified vulnerable groups particularly women who  benefit through increased household incomes, diversified food sources,  and the manure obtained is used to increase  crop production. The overall beneficiary will be the national economy through the increased production and reduced imports on meat and meat products.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It is expected that by the end of this programme, there will be increased meat and milk production, value addition through processing, marketing and of course increased consumption, thereby reducing poverty and hunger.

It is my wish that at the end of this programme, every household will own at least one cow and this can only be achieved through active participation by both benefiting farmers and extension workers in the Agriculture Sector.

With these remarks, I would like to declare the “a cow a family” initiative officially launched.

Thank you very much for your attention.—Zodiak Online

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