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| Some cattle licking at a dry borehole to try and quench their thirst |
Much is being said about the impact of the southern regions’ prolonged drought on the crop sector and its consequential effect on the availability of food for human beings. However, a silent struggle that the livestock sub-sector is likely to face as a result of the drought equally needs attention.
In Zambia, the prolonged drought has catalysed the already fast
depleting grazing lands for livestock. Whereas grazing lands would usually dry
up around the month of June, this year’s poor rainfall has entailed that livestock
farmers are being burdened with the need to supplement their animals’ nutrition
much earlier than usual.
Inadequate grazing is also a hazardous opportunity for the outbreak of livestock diseases stemming from starvation.
