Prominent farmer urges govt to establish rural feedlots in Zimbabwe

Source: Prominent farmer urges govt to establish rural feedlots – NewsDay Zimbabwe BY REX MPHISA PROMINENT Beitbridge commercial farmer Robert Park has urged the government to establish livestock feedlots in drought-prone areas to save the national herd. Zimbabwe has over the years lost a significant proportion of the national herd due to recurrent droughts. Park says the establishment of feedlots across the country would help reduce animal deaths. He said this during a meeting with Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement minister Anxious Masuka, who visited Beitbridge, a prime livestock area, recently. “Communal farmers incur heavy losses when their livestock succumbs to the effects of droughts and it is sad when someone who had up to 50 beasts is left with none. “The government could establish feedlots in rural areas to protect farmers against such losses,” Park said. Approximately 10 500 cattle died due to a lack of pastures and water in the three southern ...