Matobo livestock in danger

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FARMERS in Matobo district of Matabeleland South are facing serious shortages of pasture due to poor rains last season, forcing some to sell their cattle at below market prices.

FARMERS in Matobo district of Matabeleland South are facing serious shortages of pasture due to poor rains last season, forcing some to sell their cattle at below market prices. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER

The situation has reportedly been worsened by the burning of part of the Matopos National Park where villagers are normally permitted to graze their cattle.

To mitigate against the drought, Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers (SNV) Zimbabwe and the Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO), have assisted villagers establish five feedlots to save livestock.

The bush covering a distance of more than 12km along Matopos Road in the national parks’ recreational area where villagers normally graze their cattle has been burnt by veld fires.

A White Waters villager Trust Khumalo said the bush was burnt by unknown people two weeks ago.

On Thursday, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister Abednico Ncube officially opened Bakwayi Feedlot at Mhlasi village under Chief Bakwayi in Kezi, which seeks to alleviate the shortages of pasture.

Speaking at the function, Chief Malaba of Matobo South in Maphisa said the drought had seriously hit the area and people have to drive their cattle for kilometres to ask for grazing areas at the national park.

“Climate change has affected us here,” Chief Malaba said. “We never used to drive cattle for a long distance to graze at the national parks, but this is what is happening.

“We lost many cattle last year and we hope that the launch of the feedlots will help our cattle survive.”

Matabeleland South provincial chief livestock specialist Simangaliphi Ngwabi said she had no records of cattle dying this year due to drought, but indicated that Matobo was one of the worst affected by cattle deaths in 2012.

“Last year Matabeleland South statistics show that 9 200 cattle died due to drought,” she said.

“The leading districts in the deaths were Gwanda, Matobo, Bulilima and Beitbridge.

Ngwabi said it was a good initiative that the villagers managed to come together to introduce feedlots.

She advised them to source stockfeed seeds and start farming fodder crops for their cattle if the project is to survive.

Bakwayi Feedlot chairperson Reason Nkomazana said the project, which accommodates villagers from Ward 13 and 14, has 72 members and 30 head of cattle.

“Villagers contribute their livestock to the project and we feed them with the purpose of fattening them,” Nkomazana said.

“When sold, the money obtained will help members send children to school, buy them food and source better breed of cattle, which will increase our business.”

Morgan Mhlanga, chairman of the Matopo Agro-Dealers’ Association, which assisted in linking the villagers with FAO and SNV, said his organisation was responsible for distributing the stockfeeds brought by FAO.

“FAO introduced drought mitigation programmes for Matobo, Beitbridge, Gwanda, Plumtree and other districts in the province,” he said.

“The association distributed that food to villagers who sold it at $7 and were given $1,50 for each bag while the remaining $5,50 went into the farmers’ coffers with a view to save cattle in case of drought.”

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