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From Noah Pito in Hurungwe
Cotton farmers under chiefs Nematombo and Nyamhu-nga fear they might once again lose their entire crop this season as packs of jackals have resurfaced and are devou-ring what they have planted.
The jackals, like last year, are eating cotton at the boll stage.
Farmers have organised themselves into groups to try and ward off the jackals through nightly patrols when the ravenous packs pounce.
Chief Nematombo yesterday said the most affected areas in his jurisdiction are Nyadara, Nyangwizhu and Kahonde; while Chief Nyamhunga said Mashuma was the hardest-hit in his area.
Mr Dickson Johnson (45) of Bepe Village under Chief Nematombo said their night patrols were not very effective as the jackals could be very aggressive when people confronted them.
“Although the scavengers can easily be poisoned in order to eliminate them this can backfire as the bait can end up killing our dogs.
“Apart from that such a practice is not environmentally friendly as it might disturb our soils and vegetation,” said Mr Johnson, whose cotton crop is contracted by Sino Cotton Company.
Traditional leaders believe the jackals are a curse from the spirits in the area for their subjects’ transgression of traditional norms and values.