Govt crafting measures to address problems faced by Matabeleland Farmer

Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for Livestock Paddy Zhanda has told parliament that the government is putting up measures to curb problems affecting Matabeleland Farmers as the drought has continued to ravage the area.

"The issue of command agriculture in terms of livestock, particularly in Matabeleland, we are developing various approaches and systems to address the problems confronting the farmers in Matabeleland," he said.

"First and foremost, what we are trying to do is to commercialise the minds of livestock farmers throughout the country so that they can realise the value of their livestock. The main challenge that we are facing as a country is the low-calving rates, which are below 40% at the moment. It means in every 10 cows only four cows are giving calves every year. That is where the biggest challenge is. As a result, it makes livestock farming very unviable."

He said as for small stock, they are talking about sheep and goats.

"We are trying to establish a formal market for that small stock because at the moment there is no formal market. It is a problem when one wants to sell sheep and goats. So, we are establishing a small market and we hope that during the resuscitation of the Cold Storage Commission (CSC) abattoir in Bulawayo, there is also a section of the small stock which we also hope it will be operation within the next shortest period," he said.

"What we are also trying to do is fodder harvesting. Even when it rains in Matabeleland, no matter how much it rains, even in a good year, but periodically when we come to August, September and October, there is always a shortage of grazing. We normally want to rush to do fodder harvesting when there is a drought, but we are saying we should not wait until there is a drought. We should make it a calendar event that there is fodder harvesting, every summer season, every year. Those are some of the things we are trying to do."

Zhanda said along that side again, they have a serious challenge in the marketing of livestock, particularly in Matabeleland, where they were using the Bulawayo showgrounds as an auctioning floor, they are saying they are not going to allow the Bulawayo showgrounds to be used for congregating all animals from various parts, Nkayi, Lupane, Tsholotsho and Matebeleland South to the Bulawayo showgrounds.

"That is what has resulted in the serious outbreak of foot and mouth. We have started promoting, in actual fact it is working now, that every auction must take place where the animals are being produced, including encouraging private abattoirs to establish abattoirs in the districts so that we restrict the movement of cattle. We will also make sure that it gives advantage to farmers who will then, obviously, be made to move cattle for longer distances. That is what we are also doing," he said.