Drought Threatens to Wipe Out Over Half of Zimbabwe’s Cattle

ZIMBABWE - Farmers and livestock experts say escalating diseases, as well as the devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought, have combined to put millions of animals at risk of dying.
calendar icon 5 June 2019
clock icon 1 minute read

"According to our assessment, if no mitigatory measures are put in place to avert the situation, we are likely to lose about 50 percent of the country’s national herd. Government should declare the situation a national disaster," Livestock Farmers Union Chairperson Sifso Sibanda said.

To make matters worse, Sibanda said stockfeed, vaccines and dipping chemicals were too expensive and beyond the reach for many farmers.

Pastures have depleted while water bodies are drying up in most parts of the country, leaving animals - both wild and domestic - fighting for survival.

The southern African nation did not receive adequate rainfall during the 2018/19 summer season due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Matabeleland North crop and livestock provincial officer Dumisani Nyoni said all districts in the province did not have enough pastures as well as water.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

Source: The Zimbabwean

TheCattleSite News Desk

© 2000 - 2024 - Global Ag Media. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission.