News / National
Dipping chemicals are adequate, govt assures communal farmer
31 Dec 2011 at 08:42hrs | Views
Government has assured communal farmers that it has adequate dipping chemicals for livestock across the country but however says commercial farmers are expected to embark on their own programmes.
The rainy season is normally associated with the outbreak of tick-borne disease that affect livestock and can impact negatively on the restocking exercise .
However government has assured communal farmers that a comprehensive dipping exercise is currently underway for all provinces of the country. Commercial farmers are however expected to run their own tick-control programmes.
Veterinary field services Deputy Director, Dr Chenjerayi Njagu said that government has chipped in to assist farmers as the national head had declined due to deaths caused by diseases and the droughts that affected the country in recent years.
Dr Njagu noted that tick-borne disease are prevalent in Zimbabwe during the rainy season and farmers should particularly watch out for lumpy skin disease and heart water can be fatal to cattle.
Zimbabwe's has been rebuilding its national herd of cattle after years of decline with 5.8 million set as the target for 2011. As of 2010 the national herd was estimated to be 5 million cattle.
Agricultural experts say in order to improve the national herd there is need for grassroots investments by government into transforming communal cattle ranching into commercial and providing enough chemicals and vaccines against livestock diseases.
The rainy season is normally associated with the outbreak of tick-borne disease that affect livestock and can impact negatively on the restocking exercise .
However government has assured communal farmers that a comprehensive dipping exercise is currently underway for all provinces of the country. Commercial farmers are however expected to run their own tick-control programmes.
Veterinary field services Deputy Director, Dr Chenjerayi Njagu said that government has chipped in to assist farmers as the national head had declined due to deaths caused by diseases and the droughts that affected the country in recent years.
Dr Njagu noted that tick-borne disease are prevalent in Zimbabwe during the rainy season and farmers should particularly watch out for lumpy skin disease and heart water can be fatal to cattle.
Zimbabwe's has been rebuilding its national herd of cattle after years of decline with 5.8 million set as the target for 2011. As of 2010 the national herd was estimated to be 5 million cattle.
Agricultural experts say in order to improve the national herd there is need for grassroots investments by government into transforming communal cattle ranching into commercial and providing enough chemicals and vaccines against livestock diseases.
Source - Zbc News
