The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union says farmers in areas affected by drought must consider the government’s call to sell some of their cattle before they succumb to the severe dry spell.
Agriculture Deputy Minister Paddy Zhanda told The Source, an online publication, that he will be visiting Matabeleland North and South provinces Wednesday to engage with the farmers over the current drought situation.
Zhanda said he will also urge the farmers to sell some of their cattle and buy stock feed to avoid major losses.
The drought has led to the death of more than 7,000 cattle in the last four months. Studio 7 failed to reach Zhanda for a comment.
But Tevera said his organization has been preaching the same message to farmers to de-stock by selling their cattle so that they at least save some of their livestock by buying stock feed.
"We have been telling the farmers that it's better they sell their cattle and raise money to buy stock feed or raise school fees for their children," Tevera says.
He adds that some farmers had already started selling their cattle well before the government made the call.
The government is sending subsidized stock feed to Chiredzi farmers but some are failing to raise the $8.00 for a bag.
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Interview With Jeremiah Tevera