Maravi

Kalomo farmers refuse to register livestock

Kalomo farmers refuse to register livestock
By Lawrence Lungu
Thursday May 24, 2007 [04:00]

COMMERCIAL farmers in Kalomo district have rejected attempts to have them register and clear their livestock through traditional leaders as part of efforts to contain the Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia (CBPP). This was during a meeting held at the district commissioner’s office last week involving the farmers, the district commissioner and the provincial and district veterinary staff.

Kalomo district commissioner Oliver Pelete confirmed in an interview on Monday that the commercial farmers had rejected the strategy put in place that required all cattle owners to have their animals cleared by traditional leaders before taking them to the abattoir for slaughter.

“When we were coming up with strategies on how to contain the spread of CBPP, we had a blanket requirement that demanded that all cattle owners get clearance from traditional leaders who would confirm the origin of the animals,” Pelete said.

“But the commercial farmers in the district, who we did not take into consideration, have objected to this and I agree with them.”

Pelete said commercial farmers were on state land and could not be given the same conditions as farmers on traditional land.

“Besides, this requirement would demand that the commercial farmers move their animals to traditional leaders who are far away and has a cost bearing on them,” Pelete said.
He said as a result of the meeting, commercial farmers in the district would only have their animals cleared by the council, the police and the veterinary department.

“All these arms of government have information as to where the commercial farms are located and their clearance should be enough,” Pelete said.

But some small-scale farmers in the district were not happy at that decision as they felt it was discriminatory. “Why should we have one set of rules for the rich farmers and another for the poor ones,” Hamunjele Hamaundu said. Kalomo district together with the rest of the Southern Province has put in place a livestock movement ban due to the outbreak of the CBPP.

The ban prohibits the movement of live cattle but allows the movement of carcasses to prevent the spread of the air-borne cattle disease.

Labels: CATTLE, KALOMO

posted by MrK @ 11:37 AM