Christopher Makaza

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Professor Amon Murwira on Friday officially launched the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) Cattle Breeding project which focuses on increasing the quality and quantity of the national herd through Artificial Insemination Technology.

Speaking during the official launch, Minister Murwira said the launch of the Biotechnology and Advanced Cattle Reproductive Technologies programme is a clear demonstration of the new thrust of heritage based education and is a strategic effort being implemented by his ministry through CUT.

"Today's launch of the BACRT programme is a clear demonstration of the new thrust of heritage based education 5.0, which emphasises the application of knowledge on the local environment to produce tangible products that benefit communities, and contribute to national economic development through causing the development of new industries.

"The BACRT programme is a strategic effort being implemented by my ministry through CUT to robustly apply existing and new technologies in cattle production in Zimbabwe in order to rapidly rebuild a better quality national herd,” he said.

Minister Murwira noted that cattle production in Zimbabwe has faced a significant drop from a production peak of 7.2 million to current 5.5 million.

He said that Government was fully funding the programme to practically demonstrate the importance it is putting to Agriculture in the national economy.

CUT School of Agricultural Science and Technology Department of Animal production received a Grant from the Research Development and Commercialisation of Innovation Fund ( RDCIF) of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology  Department. The purpose of the Grant was to facilitate the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Animal Breeding and Reproduction Services.