Central province gets 168 cattle

Government has distributed 168 cattle to 28 farmer groups in Central province under the cattle restocking program to alleviate poverty among the people.

Central province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama who disclosed this in Kabwe yesterday also said 663 goats under the poverty reduction program (PRP) are yet to be distributed to 35 farmer groups in the province.

Speaking when he officially opened a two day livestock management program under PRP spearheaded by the department of community development and social services (CDSS) Mr. Lumbama said the program would gobble a total sum of K650 million.

All the 14 constituencies received six heifers each which would be passed on to others as they multiply. The program is being conducted by the veterinary department is to orient the farmer groups how to keep goats.

This is part government’s continued efforts to reduce poverty through supporting Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP ) such as pass-on-projects in the rural areas.

The Permanent Secretary has challenged small scale farmers in the province to be committed by participating actively in all activities that aimed at empowering them economically and socially.

” The objectives of such important programs were to improve nutrition status through milk and goat meat, increase household income through sell of goat milk and meat and many others, ” he said.

He reminded them that the goats they were going to receive was an additional venture to the various income generating activities that they were already doing and therefore there was need to ensure they activities became viable for them to benefit from such programs.

Mr. Lumbama urged the participants to ensure they passed-on the goats in transparent manner by inviting government officials during the pass-on celebrations.

The beneficiaries of the distribution includes farming clubs and area associations from Mumbwa, Serenje, Mkushi, Chibombo, Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi Districts, respectively.

[ ZANIS ]