Govt to aid livestock farmers with feed

By Paul Shalala

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit -DMMU- are working on modalities to start supplying maize bran and molasses to livestock farmers who have lost pasture  due to the drought and bush fires.

The beneficiary farmers are in Central and Southern Provinces.

Principal Livestock Production Officer in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock ELLISON MUSIMUKO says thousands of farmers in the two provinces are struggling to feed their animals due to dwindling pasture in the area.

Mr. MUSIMUKO says DMMU is in the process of conducting a head count of all herds of cattle in the area in order to know the quantities of maize bran and molasses which can be supplied to the farmers.

Speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Itezhi-Tezhi District after Green Economy and Environment Minister COLLINS NZOVU visited grazing areas which have been burnt by unknown people; Mr. MUSIMUKO said the situation for livestock farmers in Itezhi-Tezhi is dire.

And a livestock farmer of Itezhi-Tezhi District ROSE SHIMOONDA accused fishermen of burning pasture around Lake Itezhi-Tezhi.

Mrs. SHIMOONDA said there is a belief among fishermen that when the grass is burnt, more fish shows up at the shore.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief SHAKUMBILA of the Sala people of Mumbwa and Shibuyunji Districts has appealed to government to allow the private sector to start importing mealie meal to avert the hunger situation.

Speaking when Mr. NZOVU paid a courtesy call on him at his Chisalu Palace in Mumbwa District, Senior Chief SHAKUMBILA said maize is urgently needed in the country as crops have failed  in some parts of the country.

He also called on Zambians to put aside their partisan interests and work with government to avert the hunger situation.

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