In June and August 2012 the Department of Livestock & Veterinary Services (DLVS) carried out assessments that confirmed the severity of drought in some parts of southern Zimbabwe. FAO, with funding from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanization and Irrigation Development, launched a drought mitigation program to save the breeding cattle in the nine districts of the worst affected provinces. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to household food and nutrition security, with the expected outcome being to enhance protection of assets and develop market systems.
The project was able to;
• Distribute 19 000 tonnes of both survival and pen fattening stock feed over 20 000 livestock owning families.
• Supported 15 000 families through bulding and rehabilitating 60 boreholes.
• A total of 375 000 animals vaccinated against anthrax and Foot and mouth disease. 
• Government field extension staff trained on Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS).