Tiyani Hahlani

Zimbabwe has launched a livestock climate action project aimed at reducing methane emissions from the beef sector, as part of efforts to align agricultural production with national and international climate commitments.

The project is funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and implemented with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It targets a 20 percent reduction in methane emissions from the beef sector by 2030, in line with Zimbabwe’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2).

Methane, a short-lived climate pollutant, is a significant contributor to global warming and is largely produced through enteric fermentation in livestock.

In Zimbabwe, the livestock sector — particularly beef production — accounts for 43.6 percent of national methane emissions, according to government assessments.

Speaking at the launch, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the sector represents one of the country’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Our assessment shows that the livestock sector, particularly the beef sector, contributes 43.6 percent to methane gas emissions, which is the major contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Prof Jiri.

He noted that as livestock numbers increase, mitigation measures will be required to limit emissions growth.

“As we increase our livestock herds, we must introduce innovations that reduce those emissions. Our aim is to reduce emissions from the livestock sector by at least 20 percent under our Nationally Determined Contributions,” he said.

The livestock sector contributes approximately 43 percent of agricultural Gross Domestic Product and supports more than 60 percent of rural households, many of whom rely on cattle for income, nutrition, draught power and as a form of savings.

According to project partners, the initiative seeks to lower methane emissions without reducing productivity. Proposed interventions include climate-smart feeding regimes, improved animal health systems, enhanced herd management and strengthened breeding programmes to improve efficiency.

FAO livestock policy officer and leader of the livestock environment and climate cluster, Dr Amiable Uwizeye, said the project is designed to balance productivity and environmental sustainability.

“By focusing on mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane, in the extensive beef sector, the project contributes to national climate commitments and efforts to green the livestock value chain,” he said.

Dr Uwizeye added that farmer awareness and capacity building will be prioritised to support the adoption of lower-emission practices.

The launch comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to strengthen climate resilience in agriculture, a sector highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts and rising temperatures.

Officials say targeting methane — a potent but relatively short-lived greenhouse gas — offers an opportunity to achieve measurable climate benefits while maintaining food security and rural livelihoods.