adminWe applaud Government for moving in to save thousands of livestock on the brink of starvation and hope that the programme will be rolled out promptly as the situation has been dire for a long time.
We are also praying that this is not the last we will hear from Government as regards livestock mitigation in Matabeleland South because clearly more needs to be done to save the situation. The province has a population of 556 619 cattle contributing about 8 percent to the national herd.
Due to recurrent droughts exacerbated by climate change, the decimation of livestock has reached alarming levels with the province losing more than 500 cattle since the beginning of the year. As it is more than 200 000 cattle are under threat of dying of starvation and this is devastating for an area that is solely reliant on cattle ranching as a source of livelihood.
Cattle farmers in the province regard ranching as a sign of wealth, prestige and security and it is against this background that they must be assisted to save their livestock. Livestock has immense commercial, consumptive and social value attached to it and this Government programme therefore comes as a Godsend for them. Granted, $2 million for drought relief and livestock mitigation might sound like a drop in the ocean given the severity of the drought in the province and the number of cattle involved but it is better than nothing and we implore other partners such as non governmental organisations to come in and assist Government efforts to mitigate the problem.
Unveiling the programme at Guyu Business Centre in Gwanda District, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Justin Mupamhanga, said 5 671 tonnes of stockfeed and vaccines to cater for more than 150 000 cattle would be availed to farmers in Matabeleland South.
“As Government we made a thorough assessment of the drought situation and we realised that Matabeleland South was the worst affected province. We have set aside $1.4 million for survival stockfeed rations while $600 000 will go towards the purchasing of vaccines as well as transport to ferry the stockfeed to areas where farmers would easily access the stockfeed,” he said.
Mr Mupamhanga said a ministerial committee had since been set up to oversee the implementation of the programme which would also cover Matabeleland North, Masvingo, Midlands and parts of Manicaland province. At least 152 830 cattle in Matabeleland South would be fed under the first phase of the programme.
We hope this will assist farmers in the interim while long term solutions are sought and divine intervention in the form of rains come early to revive pastures and watering holes. As it is, farmers in the province have not been sitting idle and waiting for their cattle to die. Using their limited resources, some have relocated their herds to areas with better pastures and water while others have come together to establish feedlots.
However, relocation is a costly and taxing exercise and at times impossible due to the quarantine in place to curb diseases such as foot and mouth. Suggestions have also been made to declare the province a national disaster so that resources are sourced easily but given the competing demands on the national cake, this might be implausible. Local initiatives such as the acquisition of hay bales from other provinces for resale to cattle farmers in Matabeleland South at reasonable prices as revealed by Governor Angeline Masuku sound like a noble idea which will complement Government efforts. NGOs should also heed calls for them to introduce stockfeed packages for farmers under their drought relief programmes.
We are aware that in recent years, they have concentrated on feeding communities under their relief programmes but we feel their funders and principals will understand the need to save a community’s source of livelihood. In Matabeleland, cattle ranching is the main form of agriculture and should be prioritised. We sincerely pray that this initiative goes a long way in averting a widespread catastrophe which has been looming for a long time.
Online Reporter