About 500 cattle have reportedly died due to drought in Matabeleland South province since June this year, as most pastures and water sources have dried up due to this year’s prolonged dry spell.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Food and Agricultural Organisation in Bulawayo on Tuesday, the province’s livestock specialist, Simangaliso Ngwabi, said,
All districts indicate that all classes of livestock across all farming sectors are in a fair to poor condition, 20% of the livestock in communal lands in the province is in a fair condition and 80% poor. In commercial farms, the condition is fair to good. However, comparing the current situation to last year, the situation has declined, as during the same period last year, 50% of the livestock was in good condition.
Ngwabi also said major dams are 40% full on average, while small ones and rivers are dry.