adminGwanda Correspondent
THE Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland South Cde Abedinico Ncube yesterday challenged farmers in the province to work hard to regain their status as the leading livestock farmers in the country. Addressing participants to the inaugural Matabeleland South provincial livestock symposium, which kicked off at the Gwanda Agricultural Show Grounds yesterday, Cde Ncube said farmers should ensure the province regains its status of being the leader in livestock farming in the country.
“Matabeleland South used to be the backbone of livestock farming in Zimbabwe but today the provincial herd has been drastically reduced due to successive drought years,” he said.
Cde Ncube said there was therefore urgent need for farmers to rebuild the provincial herd.
“Our wish is for our farmers to be equipped with all the requisite information that can help in rebuilding our herd as well as prevent livestock deaths,” he said.
The province has over the years lost thousands of cattle to drought and at one stage farmers were forced to provide supplementary feeding.
The problem has been compounded by veld fires that have destroyed pastures.
Cde Ncube said the decline in livestock production in the province has also affected milk production and manufacturing of dairy products, which has resulted in imports flooding the local market.
He bemoaned the closure of the beef processing plant at West Nicholson.
“We used to have a beef canning plant here in Gwanda at West Nicholson where about 500 cattle were slaughtered per day and some of the beef was being exported earning the country the much needed foreign currency,” said Cde Ncube.
Economists have said millions of dollars are needed to resuscitate the plant that will directly benefit livestock farmers in the province and beyond.
In 2012, Matabeleland South province lost about 12,000 cattle while about 4,581 succumbed to drought last year.
Matabeleland North also lost 1,000 cattle to drought last year.
The four day livestock symposium organised by the Division of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) would be officially opened today by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for livestock Cde Paddy Zhanda.
The meeting runs under the theme “Sustainable livestock production to ensure adequate food and protein security in line with the changing world climate.”
Online Reporter