Cattle farmers shortchanged

COMMUNAL LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN GWANDA SAY THEY ARE BEING SHORTCHANGED BY BUYERS AND MIDDLEMEN WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR DESPERATION TO BUY THEIR STOCK AT UNCOMPETITIVE PRICES.

A VISIT BY THE KHULUMANI NEWS CREW TO A CATTLE SALE IN TAKALIAWA GWANDA SOUTH REVEALED THAT MORE AND MORE FARMERS ARE SELLING THEIR LIVESTOCK IN ORDER TO BUY SUPPLEMENTARY FEED AND SAVE REMAINING HERDS.

HOWEVER, BUYERS AND MIDDLEMEN ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DESPERATION OF FARMERS TO PURCHASE THEIR STOCK FOR AS LOW AS 600 RTGS DOLLARS.

LOCAL COUNCILLORS PLEADED WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT PRICES IN THE   RURAL AREAS AND CATTLE SALE PENS ARE ADJUSTED UPWARDS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION AND THE RTGS INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES OR PEGGED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY.