THE government has disclosed that collaborating partners and some financial institutions have shown interest to develop the livestock and fisheries sectors in the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, in-charge of livestock and
fisheries, Bradford Machila said support in infrastructure development, camp house rehabilitation and laboratory construction in the two sectors will improve Zambia’s economy.
Mr Machila named the financial institutions that have pledged to
support the livestock and the fisheries sectors as the African
Development Development and the World Bank.
He said the other collaborating partnership, such as the European
Union, Common Market for Eastern Southern African Countries (COMESA),
USAID and the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) have also
shown willingness to support Zambia in the fisheries and livestock
sectors.
The minister said was speaking when he addressed district heads and provincial heads of government departments in Namwala district of southern province.
Mr Machila stated that the new ministry of livestock and fisheries expected to be established is committed to deliver better services to the country that will enhance economic development.
He noted that government’s commitment to ensure development in the two
sectors has been evidenced by increased funding allocated to the
two sectors.
‘’Government is in a hurry to develop the livestock and fisheries
sectors and we should all apply ourselves diligently to meet the
objectives and targets in the newly established ministry of
agriculture and cooperatives in livestock and fisheries,’’ he noted.
Mr Machila clarified that government has prioritized the disease
control programme in the livestock sector before lifting the livestock
movement ban.
He noted that the ministry will focus on prevention of diseases than
control.
Mr Machila also noted that control measures of diseases will still be
undertaken but emphasized that it was better to prevent the diseases.
He, however, regretted the inconvenience that might have been caused to
farmers by instituting a livestock ban but maintained that government
was taking disease prevention and control by putting in place a
movement ban of animals as a matter of urgency and high priority.
The minister said that vaccination programmes against diseases will be
continued by the veterinary department to curb animal diseases.
ZANIS-NAIS/ENDS/LK/EB
Twalalolela. It is a good move at least not lyonefye denkete.
Diversification is key!
I fail to make sense from what the minister is talking about because for example the fisheries department has the least budget of only 7 billion kwacha in this years budget and its nothing really.You dont expect enhanced fisheries and aquaculture activities with this kind of allocation in the national budget.When you are talking about cooperating partners bwana minister you need to be specific because livestock & fisheries are two different things all together.This why we need ministers that are well educated in a particular field say fisheries before making such appointments.RB pliz take note!
#3 You seem to have a valid point actually … this said the concerns and points raised by the minster seem to make sense on the need of animal vaccines as a great tool to fight perennial disease out breaks in southern and western provinces……