Drought forces South East farmers out of district

The livestock census for the year 2015/2016 show decrease in the number of cattle from 23,846 in 2014/2015 to approximately 18,000 mainly due to farmers’ relocation to other districts to escape drought in the district. However, the poverty eradication programme has seen an increase in a number of small stock such as sheep and goats.

Assessment Drought report for 2015/2016 has shown that grazing conditions for livestock in the district was poor, because the district is small and experiencing overgrazing.