THE MATABELELAND region urgently needs about $300 million to revive livestock production as it emerged yesterday ranchers are set to convene an indaba in Bulawayo next week to come up with measures to salvage cattle farming which is currently in comatose.
GAMMA MUDARIKIRI OWN CORRESPONDeNT
In an interview with Southern Eye Business Matabeleland Livestock Investment Initiative chairperson Donald Khumalo said farmers in the region would convene in Bulawayo on November 29 to come up with measures to rev up livestock production.
“Livestock is the only competitive economic advantage the region has and we have to meet and conjecture a strategy which will save especially cattle production,” Khumalo said.
“We need an estimated $300 million to revive livestock production and we would be convening a livestock indaba next week to come up with initiative to save this sector,” he added.
Livestock production in Matabeleland is on a decline largely due to persistent drought as climatic changes continue to affect the region.
The cattle head which is the economic mainstay of the region, continues to drop due to shortage of grazing land and stockfeed as farmers continue to struggle to finance their operations due to the liquidity crunch persistent in the country.
Khumalo said the cattle head in the Matabeleland region dropped to an estimated one million this year from a peak head count of 2,5 million recorded in the 1990s.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
He said the cattle head drops every year largely due to the perennial drought conditions in the region as climate conditions change.
“We need to start coming with initiatives as farmers to irrigate grazing pastures,” Khumalo said.
“We cannot continue waiting for government to finance the projects as this will take long.”
The government is struggling to finance capital projects as 70% of the revenue is swallowed by the civil servant salaries.
Recently the two Agriculture deputy ministers Paddy Zhanda and David Murapira told farmers in Bulawayo that government would be suspending free inputs schemes next year due to financial constraints.
Cattle production in Matabeleland also scaled down partly due to the decline of Cold Storage Company (CSC) which currently on its knees due to financial constraints.
CSC which is used to loan cattle to farmers, is battling with a debt of $22 million and workers’ salary arrears of $2, 1 million and is one of the State enterprises earmarked for privatisation.
The bleeding parastatal, in the first half of the year, recorded a $3 million loss and requires $58 million to fully recapitalise. Twitter feedback @mudarikirig
