GOVT   EARMARKS   BEEF   EXPORT

By HAGGAI   SINKOLONGO 

GOVERNMENT plans to start exporting beef and has identified Chisamba District in Central province, as one of the districts that will provide beef for the international market.

Speaking during the sample surveillance exercise at Chipoka farm in Chisamba West Veterinary Camp, Chisamba District Senior Livestock Officer Libarty Nalishiwa said government has increased its cattle disease prevention programmes as it prepares to start exporting beef.

“Government wants to ensure Chisamba is disease free as government plans to start exporting beef and Chisamba is among the selected districts on the pilot project,” Mr Nalishiwa said.

He adds that the district has embarked on sample surveillance for cattle against major diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), East Coast Fever (ECF), and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBP). 

Mr Nalishiwa revealed that about 1,700 cattle have been sampled against the district’s total population of 70,000 cattle.

He further said the importance of this exercise early disease detection and to ensure that they are controlled as soon as possible, emphasizing the activity will be done every quarter.

Mr Nalishiwa encouraged cattle farmers to continue with routine management and also report any cases of diseases to veterinary office.

And a commercial livestock farmer, Rayn Carson, said sample surveillance is a good initiative programme because most of the time farmers like moving their cattle from different areas, which maybe infested with different diseases, as this programme will help in early detection and control of diseases. 

Mr Carson said he hopes the government will continue with this programme and must ensure that small-scale livestock farmers are sensitise adequately about the importance of the programme. 

He also encouraged small-scale livestock farmers to continue monitoring diseases by working together as a team. -NAIS