The Department of Fisheries and Livestock in Mambwe District of Eastern Province says it has an annual target of vaccinating 10,000 cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
Mambwe District Fisheries and Livestock Director, Gloria Mulenga, states the district did not have a budget for animal stocking and was only conducting vaccination exercises in order to contribute to the increase in live animal population target of 7 million by 2026 as part of the Presidential priority areas.
She has told the media that other collaborating partners such as ADRA were assisting in stocking of animals such as goats through their restocking programme.
Dr Mulenga said her department had so far vaccinated 7,940 cattle against FMD and aims to strengthen extension services as a measure to reduce livestock deaths.
Dr Mulenga further indicated that the district only had sporadic cases of East Coast fever, African swine fever and Trypanosomiasis which were managed through farmers and extension officers, who were assisting in early disease detection, diagnosis and treatment in order to control spread and any possible outbreak.
