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Namibian minister urges regional cooperation in livestock diseases fight

Namibian minister urges regional cooperation in livestock diseases fight
Written by Nicholas Mwale in Katima Mulilo, Namibia
Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:37:23 PM

NAMIBIAN Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa has called for regional cooperation in the fight against livestock diseases.

Launching the Kwando-Zambezi Regional Tsetse Eradication Project in Katima Mulilo District in Namibia on Monday, Mutorwa said regional cooperation was key if the fight against livestock diseases was to be achieved.

“Diseases and pests know no boundaries,” Mutorwa observed. “They do not need visas to cross countries. Therefore, sustainable control demands regional cooperation.”

Mutorwa challenged the technocrats to expand the regional cooperation with respect to tsetse fly control to other trans-boundary animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), lung sickness and others which were of economic and food security importance.

The Kwando Zambezi regional tsetse eradication project comprises four countries namely Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Botswana and is aimed at eradicating tsetse flies through aerial spraying.

The project commenced in 2006, with Angola and Namibia as the first countries to spray in the same year.

Meanwhile, agriculture and cooperatives deputy minister Albert Mulonga said eradication of tsetse flies would help increase income generation among livestock farmers.

“Cattle are the major source of livelihood in the areas infested with tsetse flies,” said Mulonga. “The Zambian government will therefore support this programme in a bid to improve income generation from livestock among farmers.”

And Caprivi Region governor Leonard Mwilima said his region would continue to give unwavering support to the regional tsetse eradication project until its successful conclusion.

“Livestock production is the mainstay of the economy in the Caprivi Region,” he said. “During periods of export of beef, farmers earn some N$2.4 million on a monthly basis, which highlights the importance of livestock to the region.”

Mwilima explained that tsetse flies were one of the main constraints to livestock productivity in the region.

“Some of the losses suffered included deaths, weight loss and reproductive failure. Farmers also incurred treatment costs as they managed Trypanosomiosis, known as Nagana in animals, which is a diseases emanating from tsetse flies,” said Mwilima.

Labels: CATTLE DISEASE, NAMIBIA

posted by MrK @ 2:38 PM