Livestock industry in Mozambique reels from El Nino

Narciso Macamo sold four of his cows and lost five to El Nino. If the long dry spell continues, he fears he will lose the remaining 10 he owns. He plans to gradually sell them to provide food for his family. One of the few livestock producers in Mozambique’s Southern Gaza province, he is at a loss because the price of cows dropped considerably.

A report from the country’s Institute for Disaster Management stated that over 1,000 has died for lack of water and food. “The money I got from the cows I sold was hardly enough for the food supply of my family because the prices for basic needs are so expensive at this time of crisis,” Macamo said. Most of the cattle sheds in Chimbembe community where he lives are totally empty at day time. The animals have to be forced to walk for more than 20 kilometers to the border where a river still flows and where they can find water and grass.

Populated by nearly 2000 people, Chimbembe is one of the best livestock producers in the district of Guija. Unfortunately, this did not help stop the impact of El Nino in the province. “The production of cattle in the district is concentrated to a limited number of people –estimated to be at least 100. This means that only 10 per cent of its people own livestock for subsistence,” said Alberto Zitha, a community leader.

The people who produce cattle are the better off members of the community but they too are struggling to protect their livestock from death and low prices. Some of their cows are dying so they have no choice to sell them at any price. Some opportunist businessmen steal their last hope by bargaining at rock bottom prices. “At normal circumstances we could sell a cow from 18,000 until 30,000 MT (US$400 to over $600). But now price is barely $100. If the livestock producer doesn’t accept, the buyer walks away and risk losing because the cows can likely die,” said Macamo.

“Nobody buys the meat of the animal when they are slaughtered locally because they can’t afford it. Most of the cows are sold alive. It is rare for livestock owners to slaughter and sell them in their district for lack of customers,” Macamo added. A treatment tank was set-up by World Vision for the animals to help producers keep them healthy. However, due to lack of water supply, it has not been used yet, waiting for the rains to come.

World Vision is also installing a multi-functional water system that will provide water mainly for people and secondary for animals. The project also includes distribution of seeds to the farmers after losing their harvest to El Nino.