News / National
De-stock your cattle now or watch them die says Minister Made
20 Mar 2015 at 09:29hrs | Views
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATIONAT DEVELOPMENT Joseph Made has appealed to livestock farmers in Matabeleland South and other southern parts of the country to de-stock to avoid mass cattle deaths because government will struggle to assist with stock feed.
Made said the livestock situation, particularly in Matabeleland South and other southern parts of the country like Masvingo, southern parts of Manicaland and Midlands is very desperate.
He said even though on the map it looks as if the grass is there and everything including water, in a very short space of time, people will be burning the grass.
"So, I want to start from there that we must deal with the aspect of reduced burning in areas that we can possibly bail; that will be the very first task that we must do. Specific to issues of sending tractors to assist with bailing, we are starting first of all by encouraging farmers to make sure that those with stock that can go into the programme of destocking must do so now. I want to give a warning because the dry spell has come too early for us to go to November even December" said Made.
He added "So, I want to deal with the question of destocking first that those animals that we see are not in a reasonable condition. We should not try to mislead ourselves and say we will feed those animals.
"This is our strongest advice that animals that are not in good condition in terms of the coming two/three months, let us try to destock and we remain with animals that we will be able to look after by putting in the feed lots."
Matabeleland South region has about 400 000 cattle contributing about 10 percent to the national herd.
The region used to be the country's prime cattle producing area but recurrent droughts since 1992 reportedly killed about 60 percent of the province's head.
Made said the livestock situation, particularly in Matabeleland South and other southern parts of the country like Masvingo, southern parts of Manicaland and Midlands is very desperate.
He said even though on the map it looks as if the grass is there and everything including water, in a very short space of time, people will be burning the grass.
"So, I want to start from there that we must deal with the aspect of reduced burning in areas that we can possibly bail; that will be the very first task that we must do. Specific to issues of sending tractors to assist with bailing, we are starting first of all by encouraging farmers to make sure that those with stock that can go into the programme of destocking must do so now. I want to give a warning because the dry spell has come too early for us to go to November even December" said Made.
"This is our strongest advice that animals that are not in good condition in terms of the coming two/three months, let us try to destock and we remain with animals that we will be able to look after by putting in the feed lots."
Matabeleland South region has about 400 000 cattle contributing about 10 percent to the national herd.
The region used to be the country's prime cattle producing area but recurrent droughts since 1992 reportedly killed about 60 percent of the province's head.
Source - Byo24News
