Poultry Farming In Zimbabwe: Managing Unpredictable Weather To Secure Livelihoods
Poultry farming is a vital source of income and nutrition across Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe. However, climate change and erratic weather patterns are complicating poultry production, jeopardising the livelihoods of farmers and the sector’s contribution to food security. As temperatures soar and rainfall becomes unpredictable, producers face rising costs, disease risks, and fluctuating productivity. Industry experts and experienced farmers alike are adopting practical, climate-smart strategies to help poultry operations thrive in this challenging environment.
Understanding the mounting climate challenges
The poultry sector in Zimbabwe, mirroring trends in South Africa and the region, is encountering increasing difficulties due to unpredictable weather. According to research published in Discover Sustainability, global demand for poultry products is projected to quadruple by 2050 as incomes rise and populations grow. Yet, climate variability threatens this growth by impacting feed quality, water availability, bird health, and reproduction rates.
The poultry industry is not only vulnerable but also a contributor to environmental pressures, accounting for around 8% of livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions. This dual role makes it critical for Zimbabwean poultry producers to adopt sustainable practices that reduce emissions while securing food production resilience.
Extreme temperatures strain bird health and productivity
Technical managers and veterinarians from reputable poultry companies in Southern Africa, such as Rainbow Chicken, have highlighted how extreme heat and cold directly affect poultry farming costs and bird welfare. Phiri Tau and Vinoliah Makuwa explain that improper housing that does not account for changing temperatures leads to heat or cold stress in birds, reducing feed intake, slowing growth, and increasing mortality.
In Zimbabwe, where many poultry farmers operate small to medium-sized farms, overheating during hot months and chilling in colder seasons are common challenges. Farmers have reported that heat stress leads to heart failure and respiratory problems in vulnerable older birds, while inadequate brooding facilities put chicks at risk during the cooler, wetter months.
Case study: Climate adaptation at Murehwa poultry farm
A shining example from Zimbabwe is the Murehwa district poultry farm of Mrs. Tendai Moyo, a dedicated woman farmer. Faced with rising summer temperatures, Mrs Moyo invested in ventilated housing and adjusted stocking densities to improve airflow and reduce heat stress. She also incorporated renewable energy-powered cooling systems to maintain optimal temperatures.
During the colder season, Mrs Moyo ensures the young chicks are kept in insulated brooding pens with temperature-controlled heaters and dry bedding, guarding them against cold and dampness. Her proactive biosecurity practices, including well-marked perimeters, controlled farm access and routine disinfection routines, have helped prevent disease outbreaks even during periods of environmental stress.
Her efforts have not only sustained but boosted production, demonstrating that even smallholder farmers can weather climate variability by adopting targeted, cost-effective interventions aligned with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which prioritises climate resilience and food security.
Implementing practical strategies to manage climate risks
Experts Tau and Makuwa recommend several practical measures that Zimbabwean farmers can implement to mitigate the effects of climatic volatility:
- Enhance ventilation and manage stocking density: Ensuring poultry houses have adequate airflow and avoiding overcrowding reduces heat retention and respiratory risks during hot weather.
- Prepare brooding facilities for cold, wet conditions: Use insulated pens with reliable heat sources to protect chicks and maintain steady temperatures while controlling humidity to avoid respiratory illnesses.
- Manage litter and hygiene: Maintain dry bedding to prevent the build-up of ammonia gases, which damage birds’ respiratory systems and cause burns.
- Apply strict biosecurity protocols: Limit farm access, delineate production zones with fencing, and disinfect equipment regularly to prevent disease introduction, critically important when birds are weakened by environmental stress.
- Monitor flock behaviour and environmental conditions: Stay alert to early signs of heat or cold stress to enable timely adjustments.
- Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure: Proactively build poultry houses designed to withstand extreme temperatures, anticipating future climate trends rather than reacting post-impact.
- Access training and support: Engage with agricultural extension services, industry bodies, and peer networks to stay informed about emerging best practices and available resources.
FFA Explainer:
Stocking density is the number of birds kept within a given space in the poultry house. Maintaining appropriate stocking densities helps ensure adequate airflow and reduces stress and disease risks among birds.
Disease risks and the connection to environmental stress
Environmental stress weakens poultry immune systems, increasing vulnerability to diseases such as Newcastle disease and avian influenza, both concerns in Zimbabwe and across Southern Africa. Heat stress can cause birds to eat less, lose condition, and become more susceptible to infections. Similarly, poor housing conditions and ammonia exposure can trigger respiratory illnesses.
Effective biosecurity measures coupled with good environmental management form the first line of defence against outbreaks, supporting the sector’s sustainability and the wellbeing of farming communities.
The role of climate-adaptive poultry farming in Zimbabwe’s development
The Zimbabwean government’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) emphasises enhancing climate resilience across all farming sectors to ensure food security, economic growth, and social inclusion, particularly for women, youth and children. Poultry farming is an accessible enterprise for these groups, enabling income generation and nutrition improvement.
By integrating climate-smart approaches, Zimbabwe’s poultry farmers can buffer their livelihoods against weather shocks, reduce financial losses and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources.
Looking ahead: Building a resilient poultry sector
Farmers, policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers must collaborate to develop and disseminate climate-resilient models for poultry farming. Investments in infrastructure, farmer education, access to finance, and extension services will be critical enablers.
As Mrs Tendai Moyo’s story shows, adaptation is not only necessary but possible for Zimbabwean poultry farmers who are ready to embrace innovation and sustainable management to secure a prosperous future against the backdrop of climate change.
Patricia Tembo is a Zimbabwe-based agricultural journalist passionate about sustainable farming and rural development.
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