Govt unveils livestock drought response strategy

New Ziana– Government has launched a nationwide livestock drought response strategy to support farmers affected by this year’s severe El-Nino induced drought.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Anxious Jongwe Masuka said this was meant to mitigate the impact of the drought.

The unveiling follows the declaration of a national state of disaster by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on April 3, 2024, in response to the drought, the worst since independence in 1980.

The key interventions of the strategy include, supplementary feeding programs, water supply initiatives, veterinary services, and capacity building through training.

These efforts will be implemented at ward level, with 1,620 Ward Drought Mitigation Centres established across the country. The government has secured 15,000MT of silage, molasses, and 8,800MT of maize unfit for human consumption for distribution.

Borehole drilling rigs have been allocated to provinces based on the number of wards and villages in Agro-Ecological regions IV and V, and borehole drilling is underway in several regions.

The strategy also includes the establishment of a Village Business Unit Model – Livestock Center, with various facilities such as a horticulture gardens, fishponds, a solarized borehole, and sale pens.

These centers will eventually be developed into Ward Aggregation centers for the sale of crops and livestock.

Livestock at risk have been identified for water supply and feeding, with prioritization of distressed wards.

Silage is being supplied as a survival ration, and range-land identification for hay-baling and transportation is underway.

Extension officers are training farmers at the Ward Drought Mitigation Centres and in villages, and the government has urged farmers to utilize locally available resources to formulate their rations.

This comprehensive strategy demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and ensuring sustainable livestock production.