The Pig Industry Board (PIB) is developing a state-of-the-art breeding station to provide breeding stock for pig breeders and farmers.
The parastatal, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is in the process of scouting for a consultant in the animal-breeding field to help with work at the station.
Among other duties, the consultant will be responsible for assessing the needs for genetic material of PIB and the Zimbabwean pig industry in general.
This will also include the determination of the genetic material and sources.
A breeding programme incorporating genetic materials from the different sources and a programme for genetic improvement should also be put in place.
The consultant would facilitate stakeholder consultations and integrate their input into the pig improvement programme.
Zimbabwean pig producers will need a recording scheme and also a programme for the measurement of the breeding values and genetic improvement.
All these programmes will be carried out at the breeding station.
Designing training programmes for breeders and pig producers at the station will also be part of the responsibilities of the consultant.
The number of pig producers in the country has been increasing since 2002.
Four hundred new members have been recorded for the Zimbabwe Association of Pig Producers, which operates under the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZFCU).
The Government has provided funds to support new farmers under the livestock restocking exercise through the PIB.
The PIB has said the greatest challenges and opportunities it faces are as a result of the agrarian reform.
"The long-term effect of the reform programme could be greatly increased production provided the requisite technical and financial support are given to the newly resettled farmers," PIB said last month.
This requires that the PIB undergoes fundamental transformation in its size, scope and network of provincial centres.
"Government has committed the necessary financing to make the Pig Industry Board able to deliver the services required by the new farmer and to provide extension advice and assistance to farmers," PIB said.
Pig breeders have been facing a number of challenges.
Stock feed is reported to be in short supply and the costs of maintaining has shot out of the reach of many farmers.
Many of the farmers cannot meet the specified regulations of the national pig slaughtering and pork and bacon marketing company - Colcom.
As a result, they do not sell their produce to Colcom which also supplies the export market hence the need for strict standards to be met.
Abattoirs have been established in major centres throughout the country through which members slaughter and market their produce.
The produce is inspected by the Veterinary Services Department and then sold direct to butcheries and supermarkets.
