Challenges and Opportunities in providing for Animal Agricultural information services in Zimbabwe: The case of poultry farmers in Harare

Abstract

Agriculture is the critical pillar of the Zimbabwean economy which contributes enormously to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). In Zimbabwe agriculture is usually classified – communal and commercial agriculture. Due to a number of reasons, urban and peri-agriculture is on the rise where there is increase in the growing of plants and raising of animals within and around cities. Poultry and Pig farming are easy entry for many urban growers in Zimbabwe. According to the Zimbabwe Poultry Association (ZPA) the poultry industry in Zimbabwe recorded a 22 percent growth in the first quarter of 2015 after producing 17 million broiler day old chicks. Therefore, access to quality agricultural information to support poultry farming is critical for the viability of the sector. The purpose of this paper is to review available sources of information for farmers in Zimbabwe and also examine the extent to which other libraries in urban areas are complying with international best practices in the provision of animal agricultural information services. The paper proposes a model of agricultural information provision for poultry farmers exploiting the linkages between public libraries, extension workers, and farmers’ organisations in providing information beneficiary to urban and peri-urban poultry farmers.