Minister urges Mat’land farmers to prioritise cattle ranching

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
THE Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for livestock production, Cde Paddy Zhanda, has said farmers in Matabeleland region should prioritise cattle ranching.

The Deputy Minister said this at the inaugural Provincial Livestock Fair that coincided with the launch of a cattle branding initiative in Bubi District on Thursday.

He said it was high time farmers in the region did away with traditional ways of farming and work commercially.

“Cattle is the simplest business which farmers in Matabeleland should boast about and not just wait for government aid. According to me, a person with more than five cattle must not get food aid. They simply need to learn to utilise what they have, in this case cattle, and be self-sustained,” said Deputy Minister Zhanda.

“A farmer should learn to earn a living out of the few herd of cattle that they have. It doesn’t make sense for one to sleep on an empty stomach yet they have five to eight cattle. With those few, one should learn to identify the less productive ones and sell so that they buy feed and vaccines for the rest of the herd. From one beast, one can buy food for the family and cover other responsibilities.”

Also present at the fair were the Minister of State in the Vice President Mnangagwa’s Office, Cde Clifford Sibanda, Environmental Management Agency Matabeleland North provincial manager, Mrs Chipo Zuze-Mpofu, Police National Anti-stock theft coordinator Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, among others.

Asst Comm Makodza encouraged villagers to guard their livestock against theft.

“It is important to brand your livestock for protection against thieves and straying. When branded or with an ear tag, it is easy to identify the stock no matter the distance it would have moved,” he said.

“Zim-Asset emphasises on the livelihood of citizens, therefore, with cattle, one is deemed safe from poverty. I therefore encourage everyone with cattle to register for and acquire their personal brand irons.”