“Raising my family in drought-prone and harsh climatic conditions of Buhera was a mammoth task and was never easy, and the sudden death of my cattle added a new level of stress to Kudzai and I,” said GANDANI NHACHI (39). Five years ago, January disease (Theileriosis) wreaked havoc in Gandani’s cattle kraal, leaving his family at a loss. This removed an income stream from his household as they would consume and sell fresh milk from the cattle.

The money they earned addressed different household needs that Gandani, his wife KUDZAI MUJAWO (33), and his family needed. When there was a crisis, the couple would sell a beast, but “I learned a lesson the hard way,” acknowledges Gandani as his stockman-ship skills were not enough to save his cattle. He added, “My neighbors took great care of their livestock and ensured they were vaccinated and were not struggling as their livestock survived the disease.” In hindsight, they realized that the loss could have been avoided if the necessary precautions had been taken. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the family.

For the Nhachis, accessing new income streams for their small family of five became a challenge. Each business avenue he tried failed. Always by his side, Kudzai encouraged her husband not to give up. After reading Gandani’s Farmer Field Business School notes on how to start a business, she convinced her husband to venture into an indigenous chicken project. The two returned to the drawing board and started their business with 120 SASSO chickens. Six months down the line, their income improved as they managed to raise US$500 from selling the chickens. They used the money to buy two cattle, each costing US$ 200, and two goats. “I have learned never to give up and that everything is possible,” said the proud Nhachi.

The family now has five cattle, 12 goats, and 15 sheep. “Using knowledge obtained from USAID Takunda, I am now open-minded and always working towards preventing January Disease and others by using Limoxin and dosing for internal parasites,” he said. According to Kudzai, lack of knowledge had kept them stagnant, but now that they have business skills and knowledge of animal health, they can move their family and the community forward.

The livestock is now being used to improve the infertile soils in their rain fed fields using a concept of mobile kraaling. This involves confining livestock within the arable fields using movable kraals. “This is going a long way in boosting the fertility of our soils and the general productivity of our crops”, said Nhachi. He said that some of the fields are reserved for the growing of fodder to cater for the well fare of the animals. The fodder is preserved and later used to feed livestock during the pasture lean season. “There is no going back”, said Kudzai- “We are grateful to USAID Takunda.”