Dry conditions slaughter 21 400 cattle in Matabeleland

08 Dec, 2019 - 00:12 0 Views
Dry conditions slaughter 21 400 cattle in Matabeleland It is a well-known fact that livestock farmers like any other form of farmers face a myriad of challenges which range from hostile climate to environment.

The Sunday News

Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter 

CATTLE deaths due to the effects of drought in the Matabeleland region have reached catastrophic levels with 21 400 deaths having been recorded as of last week, amid reports that farmers are struggling to source supplementary feeding and reliable water sources for their animals.

Though the number of livestock poverty deaths, especially cattle, is being felt countrywide due to depleted grazing and diminishing water sources, it is mostly felt in the Matabeleland region where the climate conditions and soils do not favour cropping but tend to go so well with animal husbandry. Official statistics obtained by Sunday News reveal that over 21 000 cattle have succumbed to drought to date though the figure surpasses that as the death of some of the animals has not been reported.

A survey by Sunday News in parts of Matabeleland revealed that drought had taken its toll, with domestic animals dying on daily basis.

“The situation is bad as you can see. Cattle are dying everyday and the rains that came a few weeks ago have not helped the situation at all,” said Mr Ackim Ndlovu from Mbondweni in Filabusi.  

Figures obtained by this paper from Government departments reveal that 21 400 cattle have succumbed to drought with 15 180 being from Matabeleland South Province, while 6 220 deaths were recorded in Matabeleland North. Beitbridge District has been the hardest hit area in the region with almost 4 000 cattle reported to have died with one farmer losing over 150 animals. Gwanda District has recorded 2 568 deaths, Mangwe (1 433), Matobo (1 734), Bulilima (2 695), Insiza (2 367) and Umzingwane (390). Matabeleland South has an estimated cattle population of slightly above 600 000. Matabeleland South provincial livestock officer, Mr Zondani Muchemwa said if urgent intervention was not taken the situation might turn out to be very catastrophic.

“I think efforts to bring relief were delayed. We were hopeful that we were going to receive survival feed as promised by the Deputy Minister Haritatos Vangelis (Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement) when he visited the province three months ago and stated that Matabeleland South would be allocated 200 000 tonnes of feed,” said Mr Muchemwa.

Matabeleland South provincial crop and livestock officer Ms Simangaliphi Ngwabi said the situation was dire stating that the number of cattle that were dying was increasing with each passing day, further stating that the isolated rains received over the past two weeks have not helped the situation.

“The figures we have for cattle poverty deaths are not the actual figures of the cattle that would have died. There are quite a number of cattle that have died and we might not have recorded them. The rains we have received recently haven’t made any difference at all in some instances the downpour has only increased the muddy conditions of some of the dams that had dried up and we are having animals getting stuck and dying in the process,” she said.

Ms Ngwabi said there was a need for farmers to take the lead in ensuring the survival of their animals.

“Farmers must find ways or means to ensure they save their animals from the drought. Of course, some farmers are doing all they can by buying hay here and there to feed their animals. The only way they can ensure the survival of their animals is to buy feed because it doesn’t make sense to lose as much as 10 animals without taking the necessary measures to save them,” she said.

Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Polex Moyo said the immense livestock deaths could have been curbed had the Government and its partners expedited the distribution of supplementary feed and rehabilitated boreholes to improve water supplies in areas of need.

“The few showers we received over the past two weeks were a relief but it was rather too late because a number of farmers had lost their animals. It’s important to note that we are faced with a serious drought, probably the same as the one in 1991/92. “Some of the animals are getting stuck in mud and die in their efforts to drink at drying dams.  As we speak animals are skinny and boney and farmers have held onto them due to the little rains we received hoping that their condition might improve and then sell them at better prices. However, farmers should buy feed to ensure the survival of their animals,” he said.

Matabeleland North has over 500 000 head of cattle with 1 651 reported to have died in Binga District, Bubi (457), Hwange (289), Lupane (823), Nkayi (1 989), Tsholotsho (634) and Umguza (377).

Cattle in the communal areas of Zimbabwe play a significant role in storage of wealth, most cash generated from cropping activities is often invested in buying animals for future use. The economic rationale for cattle ownership in communal areas is firstly to provide draught power and manure for tillage and secondly to provide milk and meat for local consumption, although the role of livestock in the farming system varies significantly from one part of Zimbabwe to another. 

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