daniel chigunwe
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
A TOTAL of 19 000 cattle succumbed to drought in Matabeleland South Province last year with Beitbridge and Umzingwane districts recording the least deaths as farmers embraced the urea treatment of stover among other drought mitigation measures.
As the drought took its toll, most cattle were forced to walk long distances in search of water and this affected most of the beasts which led to many poverty deaths.
Provincial livestock officer Mr Hatityi Muchemwa gave the details while making a presentation at Royale Cooper Estate on Wednesday where Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka visited as part of the ongoing first round of the crop, livestock and fisheries assessment programme.
He said most deaths had been recorded among communal farmers in Mangwe, Bulilima, Matobo, Insiza and Gwanda districts.
“We lost a total of 19 000 poverty deaths across the province due to the devastating effects of drought last year,” said Mr Muchemwa. “However, the situation was relatively better in Umzingwane and Beitbridge where the uptake of the urea treatment of stover was higher. We are making efforts to ensure the idea is well adopted in the other five districts.
“The worst affected were communal farmers and we are encouraging them to plant at least one plot for silage and two for fodder to supplement the stock feeds during the dry season”.
In Beitbridge, a total of 435 cattle deaths were recorded in the same period and the worst affected areas are those in ward 13 resettlement areas where water sources and pastures have drastically dwindled.
It is estimated that Beitbridge has over 200 000 cattle, 250 000 goats, 150 000 sheep and 50 000 donkeys.
Beitbridge East legislator, Cde Albert Nguluvhe, who is also a cattle farmer in ward 13, said he saved his livestock after bailing more hay towards the dry season.
Local head of veterinary services, Dr Rutendo Mwaramba, told the Minister that livestock poverty deaths in Beitbridge had been reduced from 10 percent to 2,4 percent of the total district herd last year.
“We appeal to the Government to support farmers by providing a special farm in our district to produce fodder and related stock feed since the prices of stock feeds last year was beyond the reach of many communal farmers,” said Beitbridge RDC chairman, councillor Oscar Chiromo.
