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Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
THE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has started distributing supplementary stockfeed in the country’s seven most drought hit districts in an effort to alleviate cattle from poverty deaths.
Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) director, Mr Bothwell Makodza said the non-governmental organisation started distributing the stockfeed late last year.
FAO is distributing the feed in four districts in Matabeleland South Province namely Gwanda, Beitbridge, Mangwe and Bulilima, two districts in Masvingo Province and Chipinge in Manicaland Province.
The feed is being sold specifically to communal farmers at a subsided price of $7 a bag.
“The way we had seen it is that there were already signs of drought when we undertook an assessment exercise to ascertain the situation in April together with our development partner (FAO) and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Paddy) Zhanda where we tour various parts of the country. We combined a comprehensive report together with FAO so that we seek assistance from our development partner,” Mr Makodza said.
He said Government was overwhelmed with funding other strategic sectors of the economy hence the need to rope in NGOs to assist in funding livestock programmes.
“FAO is distributing stockfeed in these districts only because the money which it sourced isn’t enough. Trying to seek assistance from Government is a non-starter because it’s overwhelmed and the only people who can help us are development partners.
“We have started distributing the stockfeed and we are dispatching an average of 600 metric tonnes per station, which is being sold at a subsided price of $7 targeting communal farmers as these are the most distressed,” Mr Makodza said.
He urged livestock farmers to destock their herds so as to guard against mortalities due to the effects of drought.
“What I can say is that there isn’t a problem of grazing land. The only problem is that farmers are not destocking their animals while they are in good condition and a lot of cattle end up being “passengers”, these include your old oxen and cows and even steers that are ready for the market. Our message as an extension department is that farmers should sell some of their animals to buy feed and save the rest of their remaining herd,” Mr Makodza said.
However, Zimbabwe Farmers Union Matabeleland South province livestock chairperson, Retired Major Sam Malaba said cattle destocking was likely to leave communal farmers susceptible to poverty.
“FAO brings in feed for sell to communal farmers but the reality is that these farmers don’t have money to buy the feed thus Government should come up with a strategy of ensuring that the feed gets to the farmers without impoverishing them.
“It doesn’t make sense for FAO to take feed to these farmers because obviously one would expect them to sell some of their animals and one wonders how much they will realise when their cattle are in bad condition as it is,” said Rtd Maj Malaba.
He said it was important for farmers to work together towards saving their animals from succumbing to the effects of drought.
“It’s high time farmers strive to work together. Those with farms that still have bit of grazing land and access to reliable water sources should allow those that are facing this dilemma to bring in their animals so as to guard against poverty deaths,” Rtd Maj Malaba said.
According to reports from DLPD the number of cattle that have died due to the effects of drought in Matabeleland South late last year had surpassed 100.
Reports said over 12 000 cattle were lost due to drought in Matabeleland South in 2013 due to drought related challenges.
Online Reporter