The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
ABOUT 8 006 poverty-related livestock deaths have been recorded across the country to date — with Manicaland recording the least fatalities — as its farmers have judiciously and proactively kept animals that are commensurate with available water and feed resources ahead of the lean season.
The farmers are also following principles of good animal husbandry as well as pay special attention to livestock disease, thereby protecting their animals from both poverty and disease related deaths.
A lean season for livestock is between the end of winter and the start of the rains —December — during which pastures and water points in low-rainfall areas can become depleted and livestock condition deteriorates or even die.
The scarcity of fodder during the lean season can be a major problem, making hay and other supplementary feeds essential for feeding.
Poor nutrition is a major constraint on animal production.
Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development’s Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri revealed that poverty deaths as at December 17, stood at 8 006 cattle.
He said 2 392 cattle deaths were recorded last week alone, while 68 deaths were recorded this Monday across the country.
The deaths were ignited by water and feed shortages, with Manicaland recording less than 60 deaths since the start of the lean season as Government timeously drilled boreholes to improve the water situation in dry regions of Buhera and Chipinge.
The Government also assisted with hay bailing equipment which saw farmers harvesting green pastures for future use.
The farmers also created fodder banks using maize stalks, while others culled their herd and used the generated resources to maintain the remnant.
The incidents of veld fires reduced drastically in livestock growing areas, while early rains helped resuscitate Mopani trees in dry regions of Buhera South and Chipinge South.
“We have lost 8 006 cattle due to drought, especially water and feed shortages.
We want to encourage livestock farmers to ensure that they have enough water and feed.
“Fortunately, the rains have come countrywide, and the grass is shooting, meaning feed will no longer be a problem. Water has also improved a bit, but we continue to encourage farmers to ensure that they keep water resources available for their livestock. On Monday, we lost 68 cattle because they were already in very bad condition. Otherwise, we should start seeing no deaths starting from a few days to come because of the rains,” he said.
Professor Jiri said farmers should have adequate feed resources for the lean season.
“Some farmers do not see this need thinking that livestock graze anyhow, yet they need to plan for them. If they listen to the livestock specialists in their areas, they will be told how much hay feed to keep as well as what they need to do if the lean season hits them unexpectedly. We want livestock farmers to follow the principles of good animal husbandry to protect their animals from dying in face of hunger and lean season,” he said.
Professor Jiri said livestock condition in Manicaland is still good, adding that the hardest hit regions are Matabeleland North and South.
“Those were the hard-hit areas, not Manicaland. Water resources are no longer a problem, and we have seen grass shooting. We encourage livestock farmers to ensure that they have water resources at their disposal for their livestock. We also encourage them to have feed resources.
“Government will only come to support communities by drilling boreholes, and it is the duty of livestock farmers to drive their cattle to the watering points. We may not be able to adequately supply hay bales, but on critical point and also institutional farms where they own cattle, we will provide them. Together with our partners we have been able to supply hay bales and other feed resources to livestock farmers in dire straits.
“We encourage livestock farmers to be judicious and proactive before the lean season hits them. The number of cattle they are keeping should be commensurate with the available water and feed resources. There is no point in keeping a lot of cattle when you know that you may not afford to feed them come the lean season,” he said.
Professor Jiri said livestock farmers must be close to their livestock officers and Agritex officers before the lean season so that they will be assisted.
Livestock specialist, Professor Joseph Kamuzhanje said farmers should also pay special attention to livestock diseases.
“While ticks thrive when there is a lot of rain, it is important for farmers to ensure that they carry out the necessary treatments such as de-worming because of the dryness of the grazing. One of the major strides by Government is the development of the livestock growth plan which intends to make livestock a US$8.2 billion dollar sector by Year 2025. This means that all interventions by all stakeholders are now target driven.
“The other area focuses on disease control and management. This is an area that has been problematic in the past. The outbreak of the January disease in 2015 which led to the death of more than 500 000 cattle is testimony to how desperate the situation had become,” he said.
Professor Kamuzhanje said areas that remain unresolved are the market systems which remained disorganised, making it difficult for fledgling farmers to participate actively. Professor Kamuzhanje said the costs of compliance are still quite high.
“Movement of animals, clearance and abattoir fees are sometimes prohibitive, thus encouraging corruption and other bad tendencies,” he said.
