Farmers urged to destock

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE government has urged farmers in drought stricken areas to sell some of their cattle so that they do not suffer huge losses.

Some farmers in Matabeleland region, Masvingo and the Midlands Provinces have reported losing livestock due to the drought.

Responding to a question that was posed in the Senate by Beitbridge Senator Cde Tambudzani Mohadi on Thursday, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for Livestock, Cde Paddy Zhanda said farmers should consider reducing their livestock during hard times. Cde Mohadi had asked the Deputy Minister on the measures the government has come up with to ensure that farmers do not lose their livestock during the drought period.

Cde Zhanda said farmers should sell some of their cattle, a message he said they have been telling farmers during assessment trips to the affected provinces.

“However, on undertaking those assessment trips, we also wanted to conscientise our farmers to make sure that when obviously there is a drought, you cannot continue to hold the same animals, seeing or sensing there is a drought. Education was to encourage our farmers to de-stock, not to completely sell everything but to de-stock,” he said. Cde Zhanda said it was difficult to prioritise on livestock rearing while people do not have food. “An example, Mr President, if one had 30 cattle, it is wise to sell five. One of them would enable you to buy food for your family and the four will enable you to buy extra feed to make sure that one avoids a total loss,” added the Deputy Minister.