The Art Of Farming | Livestock Diseases Limit Zambia’s Export Potential
Posted by Unknown in Africa, Cattle and Livestock, Diseases on Saturday 26 January 2013
By STANSLOUS NGOSA
(Times of Zambia) Livestock diseases have been a major hindrance to the growth of the sector over the years in Zambia.
For
individual farmers and households, the reduced growth leads to reduced
food security directly from a loss of source of protein and indirectly
from a loss of income from sales of livestock and reduced crop
production due to loss of draft power.
The
poor economic status at household level caused by animal diseases has
continued to make families unable to send their children to school and
meet medical fees or even have a balanced diet.
These
combined losses have led to a reduced quality of life for most
households that have depended heavily on livestock production.
At
national level, the disease situation has led to limited export
opportunities and thereby reducing the potential contribution to Gross
Domestic Product.
In
recent years there has been a lot of illegal movement of animals,
especially cattle as more people have gotten involved in the trade of
livestock as a source of livelihood.
The
challenge for the veterinary services has been to curb this vice but it
is increasingly difficult given a shortage of staff and logistic
support.
Bob
van Bijl, who recently led a Dutch investment team in the country, said
Zambia had so much potential to grow the meat and dairy industry to
high export levels.
He, however, said the stigma of the country being a disease-prone area was hurting the industry.
Mr
Van Bijl said Netherlands is a large exporter of meat, milk and other
dairy products and several investors would like to invest in Zambia
because of the suitable weather and economic conditions.
Mr
Van Bijl regretted that Zambia’s meat and dairy products were shunned
because of the perception that there is too much livestock diseases.
Mr
Van Bijl said the efforts to rid the country of livestock diseases
should be stepped up so that the country takes its right place as net
exporters of meat and dairy products.
Netherlands,
with the knowhow in livestock rearing and export, could help Zambia
better manage its animal wealth and push it up to compete with South
Africa in the region.
Luanshya’s
Kampelembe Camp Agriculture Committee chairperson Pythias Timba said
the revision of the Livestock and Animal Act to strengthen veterinary
health services is one of the serious commitments the Government should
show to improve the livestock industry,
"Doing
so will improve the quality of livestock products and probably help
Zambia satisfy the EU standards and break into that market," Mr Timba
said.
He
said the establishment of new ministries of Livestock and Fisheries
with a strengthened legal framework would significantly contribute to
the effective operation of the sector.
Mr
Timba, who is specialised in artificial insemination which entails
breeding of cattle, said there is need for the Government to pay
attention to livestock diseases.
"Since
the population of cattle is handsome, the Government should also
consider subsidising chemicals so that the majority of livestock
small-scale farmers can protect their animals," Mr Timba said.
Mr
Timba said there is need for the Government to create incentives in the
livestock industry like it has done with maize because the benefits
from livestock are many.
He
said he appreciated that maize is a staple food, but there was need to
improve other sectors like livestock sub-sector because of its huge
benefits.
Mr
Timba said there is also need to adapt relevant and sustainable
diagnostic techniques to support and control the eradication of
diseases.
"As
a country we need to develop and improve disease surveillance and
outbreak investigation methodologies in order to mitigate diseases," Mr
Timba said.
He
said conducting regular investigations on the nutritional status of
livestock in the traditional sector and recommend appropriate mitigation
measures and use of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products is
also good for enhanced crop production.
Elina
Moyo of Kafwaka in Kapiri Mposhi said it is good to provide and
harmonise an efficient livestock extension system as a means of
transferring proven technologies and empowering small-scale farmers with
better management skills.
She
said there is also need to design, develop, and transfer improved
livestock housing and handling facilities to small-scale farmers after a
research has been conducted.
"It is also important to conduct characterisation of indigenous livestock breeds and promote their conservation," Ms Moyo said.
Therefore
in order to address this situation the Government will undertake a
baseline and subsequent annual livestock audits for planning purposes.
According
to the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto, the Government will undertake a
livestock restocking programme coupled with appropriate training for
cattle farmers.
Prioritise
dipping, vaccination and treatment of diseases of all domestic animals,
rehabilitate existing and construct new dip tanks and make cattle
dipping compulsory in order to ensure that the discipline that is
implied on the actions of farmers and traders – regarding stock
movements or regular dipping is enforced and becomes routine, as in past
years.
The
Government also wants to establish joint livestock disease control
commissions with relevant neighbouring countries in order to curb
illegal movement of livestock.
Carrying
out regular vaccinations and other livestock disease control programmes
simultaneously with neighbouring countries are some of the measures the
Government wants to implement.
Intensifying
tsetse-fly eradication programmes simultaneously with neighbouring
countries, assessing the methods of managing grazing land for better
yield of meat per hectare are other measures the Government wants to put
in place.
Currently, these issues are being pursued by some NGOs and aid projects and render support where appropriate.
The
Government also wants to promote small livestock development involving
poultry through intensive vaccination programmes against various small
livestock diseases as well as upgrades training and deploys adequate
numbers of front line veterinary extension officers.
It
is therefore important to improve productive efficiency of the
livestock sector in a sustainable manner and support the marketing of
both livestock and livestock products and contribute to food security
and income.
