Online Reporter
Business Reporter
TIMELY Government and farmer interventions saved close to 2,7 million cattle from dying as a result of the El Niño-induced drought, according to Professor Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
As the drought took its toll, many cattle were forced to walk long distances in search of water, which affected their condition and led to numerous deaths.
Speaking at the inaugural Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Livestock Conference in Bulawayo on Friday, Prof Jiri stated that Matabeleland South and North, as well as Masvingo, should implement more effective strategies to minimise cattle deaths in the regions.
The conference was held under the theme “Balancing Livestock Development with Environmental Sustainability, Financing Growth, and Unlocking Opportunities in the Livestock Value Chain”.
“The actions taken during the past season prevented the deaths of 2,7 million cattle. Of course, we did lose some cattle, but the number was far less than two million,” said Prof Jiri.
He added: “From January 2024 to December, we lost approximately 50 000 cattle.
“Therefore, when you consider the 50 000 losses against the 2.7 million saved, it’s clear that the Government and farmer interventions were highly effective.”
He said in response to the El Niño-induced drought, the ministry diligently implemented drought mitigation strategies, including establishing 1 620 drought mitigation ward centres and supporting the construction of water troughs for 10 000 village business units.
The Government launched a borehole drilling programme aimed at providing water for both humans and livestock across the country, he added.
Another measure was the mass vaccination and deworming of livestock to enhance their chances of survival during the drought period.
“In collaboration with development partners, we implemented feed intervention strategies, providing vital support such as hay, silage and beef survival meal for livestock sustenance.
“Our targeted feed supplementation focused on vulnerable districts, particularly in Matabeleland, distributing 9 665 tonnes out of 15 000 tonnes of maize silage and 280MT out of 600 tonnes of wheat silage to distressed wards.”
Prof Jiri stated that it was fitting for the inaugural livestock conference to be held in Matabeleland, as the region is the heart of livestock production in Zimbabwe.
The Government has been implementing intervention initiatives that include supplementary feeding programmes, supplying drinking water, increasing veterinary services and providing capacity-building training programmes for farmers.
Development partners are also mobilising feed and water to support critical areas.
During the conference, farmers noted that they face challenges in livestock marketing due to low cattle prices, inconsistent access to markets and regulatory burdens.
It was noted that the Government is working to reduce regulatory compliance costs, which currently impact farmer profitability.
The issue of the “fifth quarter” (by-products like hides and offal) remains a contentious topic, with calls for fair compensation for farmers.
It was also noted that expanding access to export markets is crucial for reducing local market saturation and improving profitability.
