Farmers challenge Govt

Speaking at the meeting, farmers said funding for agriculture in the country always favoured crop production yet livestock production was equally important in boosting food security.

ZCFU president, Mr Donald Khumalo said Government efforts on food security would be futile without livestock production.

“Government programmes always favour crop production leaving livestock production without funding. Food security is not complete without livestock farming,” he said.

Mr Khumalo appealed to the Government to convert input schemes given to farmers in Matabeleland from seed to cattle because crop production was unviable in most parts of the region.

“Inputs come late and farmers in this region cannot be given seed maize because it is known that crop production is poor. We appeal to Government to listen to us that we need restocking of cattle than we need maize seed. With consultation, Government should know that we need survival strategies for our herd and mitigation and against diseases,” he said.

Some farmers questioned why the Government waits for cattle to die before coming up with intervention mechanisms to save them from lack of pasture.

Deputy Minister Moyo said Treasury had released $2 million towards drought mitigation which was launched in Guyu, Gwanda last week.  Bales of hay and fodder would be sold at animal health centres, he said.

“The programme delayed because Government has no money but our wish is that it continues until when there is grass. We wish we will separate funding in future budgets and provide funding according to clusters. Our problem has been policy as national food security had been focusing on maize and wheat leaving out other products.

“You should have serious lobbying when you engage. We have launched a drought relief programme and the first phase targets more than 5 000 metric tonnes of fodder to be sold at subsidised prices,” he said.

Minister Nyoni challenged farmers to take personal responsibility to revive the sector.

“Livestock farming is our backbone yet it is not part of national agenda and budget. Let us organise ourselves and fight from an organised base.

After this, my ministry and that of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development will sit down and look at implementation of suggestions and concerns you will raised here today. You should lobby for having your own balers just like crop farmers have combine harvesters,” Minister Nyoni said.

As a way forward, farmers agreed that there was a need to strengthen grassroots associations and develop lobbying strategies, approach Government with an agenda than to wait for the Government to come to them.

The farmers suggested that an office specifically for livestock farming in the region be created in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and that there should a be a special fund in Treasury for restocking and revival of structures for livestock production.

They said the Grain Marketing Board was funded to assist crop production and suggested that the Cold Storage Company be funded to support livestock farmers from this region.

Ambassador Khaya Moyo encouraged farmers not to rely on Government support saying they were the Government themselves.

He said most programmes were failing because people were pulling in different directions.

“Cattle are an important asset in this region but our problem is that we think there is a tree called government. Let us be organised as farmers and pull in one direction.  Our cattle are dying because we are pulling in different directions,”said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.

“We have taken this issue to the Politburo so that we brief President Mugabe about the state of livestock in our area and what I can say is that akula ndlovu esindwa ngumboko wayo. What we need to do as farmers is to organise ourselves and lobby for what we want.”

Senator Ndlovu urged farmers to restore the fences that have been vandalised along the country’s major roads and between paddocks as the first strategy towards restocking.

“Let us go back and strengthen our associations on the ground and mend the fence on paddocks. How do you expect the Government to help you restock when there is no fence to protect the animals from diseases and theft?” he said.
ZCFU Matabeleland North chairperson Mrs Irene Maphenduka said the demise of livestock farmers was as a result of lack of financial support.

“Leaders should be seen leading the way on our behalf because we cannot be suffering while we have many leaders in the leaders in the region. We have groups as farmers and what is lacking is funding,” she said.

Farmers concurred that splitting programmes and budget would empower livestock farmers and suggested that the ministry resuscitate the District Development Fund to drill boreholes to mitigate water shortage on farms.