The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock will only compensate farmers whose pigs were affected by swine fever after completing the de-population exercise in the affected farms.
Deputy Minister in charge of livestock Lackson Kazabu said his ministry was currently engaged in talks with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) on the modalities of compensating the farmers.
Mr. Kazabu told ZANIS in Lusaka today that his ministry has so far slaughtered a total of 8,716 pigs from 33 farms.
He said this was against a target of 12,160 animals from 49 identified farms in Lusaka Province.
Mr. Kazabu said officers from his ministry were working round the clock to ensure that pigs in farms that have not yet been covered under the de-population exercise are slaughtered.
He disclosed that some farmers, who were not cooperating with the ministry during the initial stages of the slaughtering exercise, are now allowing his officers to their farms because of the sensitization exercise that has been done.
He further said the ministry was expediting the de-population exercise of pigs in Lusaka Province so that affected farmers can begin restocking their farms.
Mr. Kazabu regretted that the swine fever impacted negatively on the economies of both farmers and companies dealing in pork products.
He also said government has lost revenue that it could have earned from the sale of pork products.
Mr. Kazuba however said the ban on the movement of pigs and pork products from Lusaka Province has not yet been lifted although the disease has been contained.
ZANIS
Iwe Kazabuuuu! Can you please mr Minister lift the ban. I have 2000 pigs to sale.
I thought the law is straight forward?
What a massacre, where all those innocent pigs slaughtered with machetes, which Sata has encouraged? These PF are savages my lord.
Me too I have pigs to sell ! Lift the ban !
UNDER VET ESCORT, IAM REQUESTING THE MINISTER TO ALLOW THE MOVEMENT OF PIGS FROM OTHER AREAS WHICH ARE NOT AFFECTED.IT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS AN OUT BREAK OF CATTLE DISEASES.JUST SIT DOWN WITH YOUR PS AND THE DIRECTOR OF VETERINARY SERVICES THAN PUNISHING THE WHOLE COUNTRY TOR THE OUT BREAK OF ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE NATION.
It wrong to assume that this ban on the movement of pork and pork products has had a negative impact on the affected farms only. Those of us who where not affected by the disease are losing money on feeding pigs whose value is diminishing and have no market to sale.
The pork processing companies have equally lost money as a result. The compensation should be across the whole spectrum of the affected.
Guys Scott 5:0 Zambians
Pig Farmers hahahahahahahahah! Another PF!
Yes, they should allow carcarses from other region to enter Lusaka, under very strict, corrupt free arrangements – if that were possible in Zambia! Otherwise, the unaffected farmers will suffer terrible stock holding costs, from which they may never recover. Kazabu, this is not Cobo drink at CB Bottling; this is farming!