THE El Niño-induced drought has hit Matabeleland South province the hardest leading to a high number of cattle deaths with 30 % of the households in the province recording losses, Southern Eye can report.
According to the 2024 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) Rural Livelihoods Assessment report on agriculture related shocks, livestock deaths (20%) were the most reported.
The report said Matabeleland South (30%) had the highest proportion of households which reported livestock deaths, followed by Masvingo at 28% and Midlands at 27% with Mashonaland West as the least with 12% cattle deaths.
“Chirumhanzu (49%), Zaka (45%) and Bulilima (42%) had the highest proportions of households which reported livestock deaths as a shock,” the report added.
On livestock diseases, the report stated that Chirumhanzu (53%) and Zaka (46%) had the highest proportions of households which reported livestock diseases.
There was a sharp drop in livestock prices with Gwanda at 64% and Nkayi (60%) recording the highest proportions of households which reported a sharp drop in livestock prices.
“Cattle prices ranged from US$119 to US$430 per average beast. The highest prices were reported in Mutasa (US$430), Goromonzi (US$428), Zvimba (US$422) and Seke (US$410), while the lowest prices were reported in Gokwe South (US$119) and Gokwe North (US$137),” the report said.
“Goat prices ranged from US$11 to US$70. The highest prices were reported in Goromonzi (US$70) and the lowest prices were reported in Gokwe North (US$11) and Gokwe South (US$14).”
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On the livestock condition, the report said about 38% of the communities indicated that their livestock were in poor condition and 13% reported that they were in good condition.
It said Mashonaland West had the highest proportion of communities (29%) which indicated that their livestock were in good condition.
The ZimLAC report also added that most of the communities (62%) indicated that pastures for livestock were inadequate and were of poor quality.
“About 94,2% of the households with livestock had access to dipping and or spraying services. Nationally, 62,8% of these households had dipped 4 times in the previous month (dipping weekly),” the report read.
“About 36,5% of the households had access to functional dip tanks. Of these 21,9% accessed the dip tanks with a 5km radius.”
