Most cattle owners in Matabeleland region have resorted to supplementing feed after poor rains affected pastures. Stockfeed dealers this week said demand from farmers was exceeding production from manufacturers.
“We are overwhelmed by farmers who are buying pen feed. The farmers are coming from as far as Nkayi looking for the feed. We are failing to cope with the situation,” said a manager with a leading stock feed dealing company.
A Plumtree cattle farmer, Asan Mpofu, accused feed stockists of taking advantage of the shortage by increasing prices. “I usually buy a 50kg bag of pen feed for $16 but the price has now gone up to $30 because of the shortage. This is very unfair,” said Mpofu.
Another farmer, Milos Moyo, said some farmers had been forced to buy an inferior grade of cattle feed which is being sold on the black market.
“Most farmers are going to lose their animals if the situation does not improve. The government should step in and assist the farmers,” he said.
A National Foods senior employee, whose company is one of the leading feed suppliers, said the shortage of cattle feed was due to a critical shortage of raw materials used in the manufacturing process, especially soya beans and energy concentrates.
Post published in: News