Livestock under threat

FARMERS in the Midlands are grappling with a high livestock mortality rate as a result of unavailability of water and pastures.

The farmers have since been urged to consider supplementary feeding to save their livestock.

The summer cropping season was characterised by prolonged dry spells in the province which affected pastures.

The dire situation has also been exacerbated by veld fires that destroyed vast acres of grazing land during last year’s fire season.

Midlands provincial crop and livestock officer Mrs Madeline Magwenzi said a crop and livestock assessment programme conducted in the province indicated the need for farmers to start considering supplementary feeding for their livestock.

She said the assessment by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement showed that Mberengwa, Zvishavane and Gokwe North districts were the most affected.

Supplementary feeds

“Our livestock in the province is dying,” said Mrs Magwenzi.

“We urge farmers to start giving their livestock supplementary feeds.

“We are on the lookout for diseases and so we are advocating for dipping cattle, to vaccinate them from diseases such as tick borne disease that are affecting some areas in the province.”

Mrs Magwenzi said maize did not do well in natural regions four and five which she said received less than 140mm of rain-fall.

“So, across the province there is no good grain,” she said.

“Gokwe South, which has been our backbone, has nothing. Gweru and Kwekwe are better because there are groundnuts, but the popular sweet potato is in short supply since it didn’t do well.

“The most affected area is Mberengwa, where some areas didn’t receive any rains like in Zvomukonde.”