Empowering Beitbridge’s Youth: K’Lusa project transforms livestock industry
Thandeka Matebesi
As part of efforts to promote sustainable economic growth, the K’Lusa project is making significant strides in empowering the youth of Beitbridge with agribusiness skills.
Located on the semi-arid and marginalized western side of Beitbridge district, the region has long relied on traditional agricultural practices dominated by the elderly. However, with limited investments and a lack of agribusiness skills, the livestock industry has faced numerous challenges hindering its growth.
Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Solidaridad SAF, and Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), the K’Lusa project aims to create inclusive red meat value chains for women and youth in eastern and southern Africa.
The initiative spans various districts in Zimbabwe, including Nkayi, Tsholotsho, Beitbridge, Gwanda, and Matobo, with a strong focus on empowering the youth through livestock entrepreneurial skills.
Dellington Mabina, a young farmer from the semi-arid western side of Beitbridge, was among the many youths who sought greener pastures in South Africa, leaving behind traditional agricultural practices. However, with the introduction of the K’Lusa project, which empowers youths with livestock entrepreneurship skills, Mabina was lured back to his homeland to take up livestock farming.
One of the key areas of focus for the K’Lusa project is market access and marketing development. By introducing marketing initiatives, the project aims to create sustainable economic opportunities for the youth, while fostering positive behavioral changes among farmers. Through animal husbandry and marketing training, participants like Mabina have gained valuable insights into the profitability of the goat business and learned to determine fair prices for their livestock, reducing their reliance on middlemen.
Mabina’s success story is a testament to the transformative power of the project. He remarked, “Before I was introduced to the project, the buyer always determined the price for goats. I became aware that I can also determine the price of my goats without having to share with middlemen. As it is now, I now know that I must plant fodder for my goats through the same training. I also get good money from selling the well-fed goats, and I have managed to start a welding business. I now employ over 5 people.”
The K’Lusa project also emphasizes sustainable production practices and technologies, aiming to enhance livestock and feed/forage production. Farmers like Kapron Shilling highlight the project’s impact on their animal husbandry skills, attributing the growth of their agricultural businesses to the agribusiness trainings received.
Shilling noted, “Before the trainings, I did not put much attention to what the goats were feeding on. However, it is different now because I watch what they feed on and how much supplementary feed they get so that I can realize maximum profits.”
These success stories exemplify the transformative power of agribusiness education in Beitbridge, steering youth away from cross-border migration and towards sustainable livelihoods in the local livestock industry. The K’Lusa project continues to make strides in equipping the next generation with the skills needed to thrive in the challenging agricultural landscape of semi-arid regions.
As the project progresses, it promises to create a brighter future for the youth of Beitbridge, fostering sustainable economic growth and empowering the local livestock industry.
