Farmers call for emergency meeting

Tinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
FARMERS in Matabeleland South province have called for an emergency meeting to discuss possible measures that they can put in place to avert possible loss of livestock due to drought that is looming in the province. The province has experienced erratic rainfall this season, with crops now a complete write-off after suffering moisture stress, while pastures have also dried up.

Mangwe Farmers Association (MFA) chairperson Mr Adam Bango Dube told Sunday News last week that farmers in the province would meet on Saturday to come up with strategies to avert the situation.

“We have called all representatives from all the wards for a meeting on the 28th of this month, where we are going to come up with strategies to deal with the situation that we are facing.

“The meeting will also serve to give farmers technical advice on what they need to do in such situations. Whatever we are going to come up with during the meeting will also benefit those who are not part of our association,” he said.

Mr Dube said his association was already considering reviving feedlots in the province as a measure to reduce the impact of drought on their livestock.
He said efforts were being made to talk to Government for farmers in the province to be allowed to collect grass and make hay from neighbouring areas that still have grass.

“We had feedlots in 2009 and 2012 and they worked pretty well. This year the situation requires that we revive the feedlots to save our cattle from starving. A farmer can contribute a certain number of cattle and put them in the feedlots in exchange for feed for the remaining herd.

“We are also considering importing grass from other areas that have better pastures and on this we have to engage Government to get permission,” he said.

Mr Bango said farmers should take heed of Government’s advice to destock, but urged farmers not to misread the advice and sell all their cattle.
“Destocking is good and helps save pastures as well as save the remaining cattle. Farmers should however not take the message to mean that they must sell all their cattle, no. The idea is to sell a few and raise money to buy feed for the remaining,” he said.

Mr Dube added that his association would be on the look out for unscrupulous cattle buyers who may want to take advantage of the drought to fleece farmers of their livestock.

He urged Government to assist in coming up with measures that ensure farmers are not exploited by cattle buyers.
“This time we are not going to allow people to buy cattle in the manner they did in previous years which left farmers poorer. We are working on various strategies that ensure farmers in the province will not suffer total losses. Government should also come in with measures that protect farmers from being exploited by cattle buyers.

“Our meeting will discuss this matter among other issues concerning the drought that we are facing,” he said.
About 350 000 cattle in the province are at risk of starvation owing to shortage of pastures due to erratic rains received in the area.