Peceli Naviticoko 
[Photo: PECELI NAVITICOKO]
Dry conditions are taking a toll on livestock farms in Tabia, Macuata, with farmers reporting shrinking pasture, limited water and livestock deaths.
The prolonged dry weather is making it increasingly difficult to maintain the health and condition of cattle, goats and sheep.
Livestock farmer Mohammed Faiyaz says finding enough grass to feed the animals is becoming increasingly difficult.
“Now, we have to go and get grass from somewhere else just to feed our cattle, goats and sheep. Everything is drying up, and the pasture is no longer green or healthy. We are worried about our livestock, and we are hoping for more assistance for large-scale livestock farms.”
The shortage of pasture is now affecting the animals’ condition, with farmers reporting weight loss, visible signs of poor health and livestock deaths.
Faiyaz describes the decline in livestock health as a growing concern, with some animals becoming increasingly thin as the dry weather persists.
Another Tabia farmer, Akuila Moimoi, says farmers are now dividing their livestock into three groups and rotating them between grazing areas to preserve the remaining pasture.
Some animals are also being taken closer to the river in an effort to access available water and grazing.
For now, livestock farmers in Tabia are doing what they can to keep their animals fed and alive as dry conditions continue in the North.
