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Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
THE number of cattle deaths as a result of drought have drastically gone down with some areas no longer in immediate danger as pastures have improved due to the rains the country has been receiving over the past few weeks.
Although officials could not immediately provide statistics in Matabeleland region which was one of the most affected, they said in some areas which were previously affected no deaths were being recorded as pastures have improved.
Department of Veterinary Services Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Polex Moyo said although the province had lost around 4 000 cattle since last year due to poverty death, the situation has changed.
“These rains have really turned the situation around because we were losing lots of cattle due to depleted pastures and lack of water sources. The seriously affected areas were Binga and Tsholotsho. However, most rivers in the province are flowing meaning that the issue of water is no longer a big challenge,” Dr Moyo said.
According to reports received from Matabeleland South province’s Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) offices a total of 1 299 cattle were recorded to have succumbed due to the effects of drought as of 23 February but since then isolated cases have been reported.
In Beitbridge 17 deaths were recorded, Gwanda (75), Matobo (436), Mangwe (350), Umzingwane (33), Insiza (162), Bulilima (226).
“We haven’t received poverty death cases over the last weeks largely due to the rains we have been receiving of late.
However, it has to be taken into consideration that there are many factors that led to the poverty deaths.
“For instance the searing heat meant that we lost most of our water sources, now the water situation has improved.
Though grazing land has been revived in some districts it seems the germination rate is very slow,” said DLPD Matabeleland South provincial livestock specialist, Mrs Simangaliphi Ngwabi.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union Matabeleland North provincial chairman, Mr Winston Babbage, said the rains the country has been receiving are a big relief to farmers.
At the beginning of the year the Food and Agricultural Organisation distributed stock feed in four districts in Matabeleland South Province namely Gwanda, Beitbridge, Mangwe and Bulilima, two districts in Masvingo Province and Chipinge in Manicaland Province in an effort to avert cattle poverty deaths.
The feed is being sold specifically to communal farmers at a subsidised price of $7 a bag.
The Government recently pledged to unveil more than $200 million for the livestock support programme with $54 million going towards a cattle de-stocking exercise as part of plans to ensure that farmers guard against losing their animals due to the effects of drought.
Matabeleland region used to be the country’s prime cattle producing area but recurrent droughts since 1992 reportedly killed about 60 percent of the provinces’ herd.
Reports said over 12 000 cattle were lost due to drought in Matabeleland South in 2013 due to drought related challenges.
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