The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) successfully concluded a transformative three-week training programme aimed at empowering Farmer Field Schools (FFS) Facilitators in Zimbabwe.
The initiative, designed to combat the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the poultry value chain, saw the participation of dedicated individuals committed to enhancing biosecurity, optimising antimicrobial use (AMU), and improving the economics of poultry production.
The comprehensive training, which culminated in a graduation ceremony held in Bulawayo on Saturday, 24 February 2024, garnered attendance from farmers, government officials, extension officers, development partners, and FAO representatives from the subregion.
Mark Obonyo, AMR programme lead, spoke on behalf of Patrice Talla, FAO subregional coordinator for Southern Africa, emphasising the importance of the acquired skills.
“Through this comprehensive training workshop, the facilitators have gained experience about the intricacies of setting up and guiding farmer field schools, conducting comparative experiments, and collecting essential data to assess the impact of biosecurity interventions.
“Armed with a diverse array of skills ranging from sustainable poultry production to disease identification and curriculum development, the graduates will emerge as agents of transformation within their communities.”
The FFS methodology, relatively new in the livestock sector of Zimbabwe, particularly in broiler production, acts as a participatory knowledge hub. It equips farmers with essential skills, promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials to combat AMR.
Between 2020 and 2023, the FAO piloted the FFS approach in broiler production across four provinces in Zimbabwe. In 2023, selected officers from the department of veterinary services (DVS) in Zimbabwe and other African countries underwent the standard FFS master training program in Kenya.
In collaboration with the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), FAO supported the training to upscale the initiative, building upon the successes of the pilot broiler FFS. The government of Zimbabwe, through the DVS and Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development (MoLAFWRD), played a pivotal role in leading the process.
Dr. Dumisani Kutywayo, chief director: agricultural research, innovation and development, highlighted the significance of the FFS model.
“These practices are instrumental not only in increasing productivity in our livestock sector but also serve as a pivotal step in reducing the incidence of diseases, thereby lessening the need for medications and ultimately contributing to curbing antimicrobial resistance.”
The FAO’s efforts in Zimbabwe align with the FAO AMR Action Plan (2021 to 2025) and the Country Programming Framework for Zimbabwe 2022 to 2026. The latter serves as a key tool in mapping out priority areas aligned with the government’s National Development Strategy 1 and FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022 to 2031. This framework aims to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.
Looking ahead, the broiler FFS approach will extend to four new provinces, with plans to upscale this methodology to other livestock value chains. Enhanced data collection and evaluation efforts will contribute to influencing national AMR/U policy, participating in global AMR/U data collection platforms, and building an economic case for tackling antimicrobial resistance.
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