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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
MATABELELAND South Province has started losing cattle to drought with 182 deaths recorded since last month. In an interview on Wednesday, provincial livestock specialist Mr Ronald Veremu said the province had this year not recorded any poverty related cattle deaths until last month when the beasts started dying due to drought.
“This year we had not recorded any cattle deaths due to drought. The province started recording cattle deaths last month and we have lost 182 as of Friday last week,” he said.
Mr Veremu said Bulilima District had recorded the highest number of cattle deaths standing at 67 followed by Insiza with 31.
Matobo District lost 28 cattle while 24 deaths were recorded in Mangwe and 23 in Umzingwane.
Gwanda District had eight deaths with Garanyemba area being the most affected whereas Beitbridge had one beast dying.
Most cattle deaths were recorded in communal areas.
Mr Veremu said during the same period last year, the province had lost about 2 000 cattle.
He said the Government’s drought mitigation programmes were to a greater extent a contributory factor to the lower number of cattle deaths recorded.
“The figures are very low this year compared to last year.
“Although we still have some farmers who are not buying supplementary feed for survival of their animals, we are happy that most of our farmers have changed their mindset. Most of them now view livestock production as a business.
“Most of our farmers have ventured into pen feeding,” he said.
Mr Veremu said the pastures have dwindled.
He, however, said the water situation had improved following the rehabilitation of some water points by Government working with some Non-Governmental Organisations.
“Availability of water is a little bit of a challenge but not severe because most boreholes have been rehabilitated,” said Mr Veremu.
Last year the province lost about 12 000 cattle to drought.
Online Reporter