LOOKING BACK: Minister urged to rescue young ranchers

The Rhodesia Herald, 4 February 1978

SOME young ranchers in the Midlands area will not survive this year intact unless something is done to help them.

None can be described as below average farmers, but they are going down as a result of years of drought, rising costs and recession.

This was said by Mr Henry Elsworth, MP for Midlands and himself a rancher, at a meeting of Que Que Farmers Association yesterday.

But there is hope, said Mr Elsworth. He had personally put the plight of these 20 to 30 ranchers to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mark Partridge, who, if enough young farmers came forward, would hold a closed meeting with them in the Midlands to see how he can help. What is happening is that these chaps are being pressed to meet their commitments and obligations and in order to do so will have to sell off their breeding herds which they will have to give away at low prices said Mr. Elsworth.

He said he had made it clear to the Minister that they were not looking for an increased price or a subsidy. All we are looking for an opportunity for is these young chaps to ride out the recession this year and maybe next year he said.