Harare, (New Ziana) -Livestock farmers across the country have been urged to start preparing feed for their animals in anticipation of the upcoming dry season.
Acting chief director of the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) Directorate in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Leonard Munamati made the call in a statement, warning farmers not to always expect the government to intervene during lean periods.
He urged farmers to take proactive measures to prevent a repeat of last year’s feed shortages that resulted in livestock deaths.
“What we are encouraging this time around is, we don’t want to repeat challenges which we had last year where some cattle died due to shortage of feed and shortage of water,” said.
“We are saying this is the time to make sure that we prepare for the period where we would be having challenges of food.”
Munamati urged farmers to engage in hay baling and silage production, emphasizing the importance of nutritional feed for maintaining livestock health.
He also recommended that farmers practice urea treatment of stover immediately after harvest to boost its protein value, making it a more viable feed option during dry spells.
“We know that traditionally, farmers harvest the stalks and store them to feed livestock when necessary. So every farmer should be responsible for their livestock,” he said.
Munamati reiterated that it is not primarily the role of the government to ensure livestock are fed, stressing that the responsibility lies with the owners to prepare and secure sufficient feed for their animals.
The call comes as part of broader government efforts to promote resilience and self-reliance among farmers amid increasingly unpredictable weather conditions and growing threats of drought.
New Ziana
