WE MUST INCREASE CATTLE NUMBERS – CHIKOTE

By Jessica Mwansa

THERE is a need to increase cattle production in the country following the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) that affected the livestock farmers, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Makozo Chikote said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Chikote said the cattle production in the country currently stands at 4.8 million adding that cattle farmers should double this number to 8 million.

Mr Chikote said farmers were critical and should now start initiating projects and programs that will help double their production.

 “The Government has prioritized extension service delivery, disease control and market access among other measures to grow the sector. Cattle farmers can therefore double the cattle stock if they work with different stakeholders and get knowledge and support from them.

 “The Government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema is giving maximum support to the fisheries and livestock sector for it to contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

He said his ministry will complete and operationalize all the infrastructure projects that had stalled in all parts of the country adding that the New Dawn Government attached great importance to the livestock sector with practical solutions.

The Livestock and Fisheries Minister further said the FMD had been controlled with no new cases recorded despite many farmers across the country losing their livestock to the disease.

“Vaccination of livestock is still ongoing even in the unaffected places so that the FMD is completely combated and does not spread further. The ministry, together with other partners, ensured that the disease was brought under control without further delay which was likely to perpetuate rural poverty and inequality in rural communities,” he said.

He said the Government had drawn a three year FMD control plan that aimed at progressively controlling the FMD from the rest of the country and limited it to the national parks where wildlife FMD virus reservoirs were found.

“Therefore, I appeal to livestock keepers countrywide to continue adhering to the measures that were first put in place to avoid the rebirth of the FMD and losing livestock,” he said.