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Minister Zhanda

Walter Mswazie Herald Correspondent
Masvingo’s Cold Storage Commission Company branch requires constant supply of about 400 beasts a day to be fully operational. This was revealed by Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister (Livestock) Cde Paddy Zhanda in an interview.

Deputy Minister Zhanda said for the meat entity which used to be the ancient city’s life blood to be operational fully, farmers in Masvingo should have the capacity to supply hundreds of cattle per given time.

“For Masvingo CSC to be resuscitated there should be a guarantee that local farmers can supply the meat entity with the beats, as it slaughters 400 beats per day,” he said.

“We know how vital CSC was to the residents as it used to account for three quarters of the workforce before its closure.” Deputy Minister Zhanda said the province was the largest producer of cattle, with an estimated cattle herd of two million. Zimbabwe’s national herd stands at around five million.

“Communal farmers from which the beasts will be supplied own about 54 percent of the total cattle population in the province,” said Deputy Minister Zhanda. “Each farmer owns four cattle on average which they use for domestic purposes. This implies they will not be able to dispose them.”

Deputy Minister Zhanda said CSC should be for the export market and the quality of meat remained key. Masvingo Provincial Beef Farmers Association chairman Mr Robert Makado urged Government to avail capital for beef farmers in the province.

“As cattle farmers in Masvingo, we feel that it is possible for the CSC to be resuscitated,” he said. “What we are looking for is the implementation of Command Livestock Programme that Government has announced.

“Once there is a facility which promotes us on cattle feed, vaccines and other necessities, we will have the capacity. CSC should also be heavily capitalised so that it can unveil contract farming which farmers can embrace.” At least six countries have made inquiries on how they can assist Zimbabwe revive its livestock sector as part of Command Livestock Programme.

The countries include China, Russia, France, Poland and others in the Middle East. At the height of its operations, CSC directly employed more than 4 000 people, while many others benefited in various.