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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE outbreak of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) has continued to frustrate the Bulawayo Agriculture Show, forcing organisers to reduce livestock-related exhibitions at this year’s fair.

The Bulawayo Agriculture Show runs concurrently with the Zimbabwe International Trade fair (ZITF), which kicked off yesterday.

Chronicle Business observed that only a few farmers registered for the show as the ban on pigs, sheep and goats is yet to be lifted.

Only 60 head of cattle were brought for exhibition with officials attributing the low numbers to fears over FMD.

Ndabezinhle Mkhwananzi, a veterinary department officer in Bulawayo said some adjustments had been done to combat FMD.

The veterinary department last year reacted swiftly with a ban on cattle movement after it detected cases of the disease on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

“The cattle that have been brought by farmers here are for the fat stock competition not exhibitions. After the competition winners will be announced and all the cattle will be sold only to those who’ll slaughter them,” said Mkhwananzi.

“It’s a special arrangement that we’ve made for farmers who want to take part at the show. This is part of our efforts to control the foot and mouth disease. This way there’s no risk of further spreading of the disease.

“We came up with a strategy to decentralise cattle sales so that diseases don’t spread to other districts or provinces. Farmers are expected to sell their cattle within their locality.”

Mkhwananzi said due to the disease, the veterinary department was yet to lift the ban on the exhibition of goats, sheep and pigs.

“We only have a few rabbits on exhibition but we’re still not accepting goats, pigs and sheep because of foot and mouth. The few cattle that have been brought for the fat stock competition have been vaccinated twice and monitored thoroughly before they came here,” he said.

“We’ve taken all the precautions to make sure that all the cattle brought here aren’t at risk. The purpose of the competition is for the farmers to share ideas and learn from others how to take care of their cattle so that they make reasonable money when they want to sell the beasts.”

One of the farmers who brought his cattle for the competition Ronny Sibanda from Nyamandlovu in Umguza District said he was excited to be part of the competition although he expected more farmers to take part. Over the years, the Bulawayo Agriculture Society has attracted huge numbers of cattle under exhibition. Last year only 50 cattle were brought for the competition. Foot and mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs and has been reported in parts of Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo.