(Last Updated on February 24, 2016 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – At least 19 300 cattle have died in Zimbabwe due to drought, the country’s deputy minister of agriculture, Paddy Zhanda has confirmed.
Zhanda said despite the recent rains that hit the southern African country, the situation remained severe.
He said the number of dead animals was increasing rapidly everyday.
The deputy minister urged farmers to sell off some of their animals in order to be able to raise cash to buy feed for the remaining herd.
Zhanda said the government was unable to assist the farmers due to financial difficulties.
The southern half of the land locked country has experienced one of the driest seasons in well over two decades.
Reports indicate that in most parts of the southern African country, people are competing with the livestock for drinking water.
Last year, the livestock department in Matebeleland North warned farmers to prepare for the worst, saying at least 99% of the cattle in the province could be lost due to shortage of pastures caused by drought.