Govt secures $2,1m for stockfeed

29 Nov, 2015 - 00:11 0 Views

The Sunday News

THE Government has secured $2,1 million from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for the procurement of stockfeed, as it moves to mitigate the impacts of drought on the national herd.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister in charge of Livestock Cde Paddy Zhanda told Sunday News last week that distribution of the stockfeed to different parts of the country will start this week.

Most parts of the country experienced below average rainfall during the previous rainy season, leading to a drought, with livestock facing decimation owing to diminished pastures.

The Government last week launched a subsidised stockfeed programme, courtesy of the $2,1 million shot in the arm from FAO.

Cde Zhanda said under the programme, farmers would now be able to buy stockfeed at subsidised prices and save their livestock from succumbing to drought.

“I’m glad to announce that we have just launched a stockfeed subsidy programme with the assistance of FAO. We are grateful to FAO for responding to our request.

“We did our assessment from 29 March to 2 April and came up with interventions that were required. We sent a representative to FAO after the assessment and they have just responded to the emergency.

“We hope to start moving feed quickly to all parts of the country.

“We also want to sensitise our farmers that there is such a programme, where they can buy stockfeed at subsidised prices and be able to save their livestock from starving,” he said.

Although Cde Zhanda was not in a position to disclose quantities of stockfeed procured, which farmers can buy, he expressed confidence that the stockfeed would be enough.

He said part of the $2,1 million had also gone towards the purchase of grain feeds which will be distributed to drought prone areas to encourage farmers to grow small grains which may come handy in cases of droughts.

The Deputy Minister also expressed hope that the beginning of the rainy season would also ease the shortage of pastures in different parts of the country, reducing the possibility of loss of livestock due to starvation.

“Our hope is that with these rains that we started experiencing the situation will not remain the same in most parts of the country. I cannot say exactly how many tonnes of stockfeed have been procured, but what I’m sure of is that the stockfeed is enough to respond to our emergency,” he said.

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