adminBlessing Rwizi
RESOURCE poor smallholder farmers in Chipinge were left counting severe losses amid revelations that at least 603 cattle have died due to starvation in the district. The hardest hit areas are in the Lowveld Wards 1, 3, 4, 16 and 20. Parts of Wards 21, 22, 24, 25 and 26 were also affected. The cattle have died due to a combination of water and food shortages as well as diseases.
Acting Provincial Livestock Production and Development Officer, Mr Joshua Zveutete, said the situation in Chipinge District was dire and requires urgent interventions to curtail more cattle deaths.
“Reports have so far been made to the Government to intervene and help solve these problems. These areas need subsidised beef survival meals and funds for construction of water troughs at water points. There is also need for the establishment of pasture and fodder demonstration plots and multiplication centres in the district,” said Mr Zvoutete.
Mr Zvoutete also bemoaned the fact that animals in Chipinge have been exposed to foot-and-mouth and, as a result, farmers were inhibited from moving their cattle to other areas with better feed to avoid the spread of the disease. The Manica Post established that for example, in Ward 10, of the 675 water sources, 429 of them do not have water troughs, a feat that limits livestock access to drinking water.
Areas worst affected by water shortages include Kondo, Maronga, Dumisayi, Mwacheta, Masimbe, Chibuwe, Maunganidze, Bangwe, Musani, Tanganda, Manesa, Mutema, Rimbi, Gumira, Manzvire, Chisavanye, Mariya, Rimai, Madhuku, Chisumbanje, Vheneka, Chinyamukwakwa, Mabee, Chisuma and Maparadze.
Animals are relying on drying borehole water. They share water with people. One of the affected villagers, Mr Munyati Charuma, from Chibuwe area decried the prevalent situation and appealed for Government and Non- Governmental Organisations intervention by sinking and rehabilitating more water points in the hardest hit areas.
“We are in serious trouble this year and Government should chip in to assist with fodder especially to those smallholder farmers those who cannot afford stock feeds,” said Mr Charuma.
Mr Charuma revealed that severe water shortages were now forcing cattle to stray into Middle Sabi farms in search of water and feed, risking exposure to foot and mouth disease and theft. He added that some herds of the cattle were being driven into Mozambique border in search of food.
“Grazing pastures are fast deteriorating in these areas, leaving farmers clueless and watching in awe as their prized possessions and status symbols die indiscriminately. Something has to be done to avert livestock deaths in Chipinge.
“We lost a lot of beasts this year due to the water and animal food problems and we are worried that if the situation continues we are likely to lose more of our wealth. We risk having the entire herd in the district wiped out. We need more boreholes to be rehabilitated and new ones sunk so that people and livestock can have water during this moment of need,” said Mr Charuma.
Apart from drought induced water and food, an increase in incidence of veld fires has also worsened grazing pastures shortage in the district. Patches of bare ground are now common sight in the affected areas. The estimated 32 812 surviving cattle, their body condition has deteriorated drastically. Farmers cannot afford supplementary feed, which they claim is prized beyond their reach.
Online Reporter