(ZIMBABWELAND) Abbatoirs and the Zimbabwe meat trade
Continuing the blog series on meat and livestock, this week I am going to focus on abbatoirs and the meat trade, again drawing on our work in Masvingo. Just as we have seen with the retail and production ends of the value chain, the ‘middlemen’ who source animals, slaughter then and supply butcheries have also been changing.
In the past the Masvingo trade was dominated by a narrow group of abbatoirs – essentially Carswell and Montana, together with the CSC (Cold Storage Company). They were organised around an external trade, mostly to Harare. With the CSC now effectively defunct, the big two remain, and continue to have a healthy trade in the province. Still around 90% of their meat ends up in Harare, although Montana has a number of shops and butcheries elsewhere. Both have networks of buyers who work across the rural areas, sourcing animals which are then transported to the Masvingo-based abbatoirs. They both rent farms near town to act as holding and fattening areas, so as to assure even supplies and higher value. Several thousand head are held on farms near Masvingo at any one time, involving paying grazing fees of $3-5 per beast per month. With the decline in beef production in the Highveld following land reform, assuring supplies from Masvingo is essential.
Local producers however complain about the prices at these two abbatoirs, plus the fact neither pay for the ‘fifth quarter’ (offal etc.), yet this is sold on. In recent years some other abbatoirs have sprung up serving a different market. In Masvingo there are currently three, each reflecting differences in the customer base.
Kismet is linked to a farm and so has direct access to animals. In addition the owners buy at auctions in Mwenezi, Bikita and elsewhere. They have restaurant and butchery in town, and so have a fairly well organised and vertically integrated business. They offer service slaughter, but most people currently prefer Gonyohori abbatoir. Farmers come to abbatoir for service slaughter, and the abbatoir has very good links with butcheries in town. Mr Machingambi says: “I link producers and buyers at this abbatoir”. Although there is no refrigerator, butchers know when meat is available and around 5 beasts are slaughtered each day. Nearly all the meat is economy grade. As Mrs Foroma explained “Meat is meat” in the market she supplies to, and Gonyohori supplies is efficiently and complying with safety standards. The only other abbatoir, Tafira, has gone downhill recently, and used to be the favoured place for service slaughter. The links with the butchery and restaurant trade are not so well developed, although on relative has a butchery in Zvishavane.
The other option is to buy from ‘under the tree’ pole slaughtering sites. Most butcheries do not prefer this because of the health risks, but some argue that as long as the meat is fresh, it is fine, and much cheaper. A number of people operate such sites, although they are constantly being closed down by the municipal health authorities.
Another option is to buy from meat traders who purchase animals, have it slaughtered and sell it on. Again there are complaints about health standards, but the supply is regular and efficient. Mr C explained his business: “I entered the business of meat trading through bartering scotch carts for oxen. I make good carts, and there is a demand. I now buy cattle from those who urgently need to sell” He sources from Mushandike and surrounding areas, and moves them in his 1.5 tonne truck. He rents space in a shop and distributes to butcheries after slaughter. “I regularly supply butcheries. I’m now a petrol attendant, so everyone knows where to find me”, he explained.
Others have entered the trade, finding it lucrative. A group of veterinarians in the district office for example buy up heifers and barter them for oxen or cows who no longer produce milk. They leave heifers with local farmers they trust and exchange across the district. They can also buy for cash. Animals are then slaughtered in town either for cash, or as part of advance deals with butcheries and restaurants. The syndicate buys up to 5-6 cattle per month, and given their expert knowledge and access to farmers they make a good profit to supplement their meagre government salaries.
Finally, there are ‘beef committees’ operating across the rural areas where single animals are bought by a group, usually of civil servants resident in the rural areas. Teachers, police, extension workers and others may be members. This allows a supply of meat which by-passes butcheries and supermarkets, allowing premium deals to be struck.
All such transactions are expected to be regulated, often by multiple authorities. This can sometimes cause confusion and cost. The police have to be involved for any transport of meat or live animals, as a way of preventing stock theft. The veterinary department too must provide certificates for movement, to avoid disease spread. And slaughter places are supposed to be regulated by the health authorities, particularly in urban, municipal areas. Farmers, traders, butchers and abbatoir owners complain that this plethora of regulations, and the involvement of so many different people can be a problem. If someone arrives late or not at all a deal may be lost, or meat may be left unrefrigerated for a long time. Sometimes transport is provided to the relevant people to facilitate the process, but the right people have to turn up with the right forms at the right time. Sometimes too the process is smoothed by a bribe or a gift, and increasingly this has become the pattern. But this too can slow down transactions as officials bid for a better level of compensation.
The beef value chain is certainly complex and diverse with multiple different actors at each stage. But it does seem to work: cheap, safe meat is provided to the customers that want it, and quite a number of people get gainful employment in the process. But is the current, often highly informal, system efficient and effective? Too often we deem anything informal as in need of reform, with a need to formalise, structure and regulate. Yet this system is responsive to diverse demands, and apparently flexible to changing supply situations. Indeed, the main thing that seems to slow things down, and add sometimes unnecessary cost is the complex system of regulation, now associated with bribes and payments. While such regulations and controls are clearly necessary, a more streamlined system is clearly needed to improve returns and value.
As next week’s blog shows, this is even more important in the context of rural livestock marketing.
This post was written by Ian Scoones and originally appeared on Zimbabweland
Labels: CATTLE, IAN SCOONES, MEAT
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Revamping of cattle breeding centres begins in N/W Province
By Moses Kuwema and Tilyenji Mwanza
Fri 11 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott on Wednesday sent some members of parliament into laughter when he said that the type of cattle to be found at breeding centres in North Western Province would be four-legged.
This was during questions for oral answer in which Mwinilunga UPND member of parliament Stephen Katuka asked whether the government had any plans of establishing more cattle-breeding centres in North-Western Province.
Vice-President Scott, who was answering the question on behalf of agriculture minister Robert Sichinga, said the government would only establish more cattle breeding centres in North Western Province when the two existing ones become operational.
Mapatizya UPND member of parliament Clive Miyanda then asked what type of cattle would be stocked in the yet-to-be-established breeding centres, to which Vice-President Scott responded: "the four-legged ones", sending members into laughter.
However, after sometime, Keembe MMD member of parliament Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha rose on a point of order, seeking to know if the Vice-President was in order to state that the type of cattle to be stocked in the breeding centres would be four-legged when it was obvious that cattle had four legs.
In his ruling, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini urged Vice-President Scott to offer plain answers to the questioners.
And Vice-President Scott said the government had already started revamping the Kanyama and Chihundu breeding centres.
He said the government had stocked Kanyama Centre in Mwinilunga with 170 cattle as a way of restoring the breeding centre.
Vice-President Scott said chiefs Kanongesha and Kapijimpanga had already identified land where the cattle breeding centres would be constructed.
Labels: CATTLE, GUY SCOTT, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE, PF
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Zambia should become regional beef exporter, says Kazabu
By Selina Nyirenda in Lusaka and Cynthia Phiri in Choma
Fri 08 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
LUXON Kazabu says Zambia must be aggressive and position itself as a regional beef exporter. And Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Nicolas Banda says the government is determined to find best ways and resources to invest in the livestock sector aimed at controlling animal diseases.
In an interview yesterday, Kazabu who is also agriculture deputy minister said the country had a lot to learn from Botswana to boost the dairy sector.
"We must as a country strive hard to penetrate the European markets in terms of exporting beef. Like our friends in Botswana, the country is a desert but it's the largest exporter of beef in Africa," Kazabu said.
He said cattle diseases were a setback in the country's quest to become an exporter of beef.
"We just need to rehabilitate the dip tanks. That is also an obstacle because these tanks are located very far from where our people live, so by adding to the number of dip tanks that we already have, I think we will be shortening the distance," he said.
"Going forward, we have to look at how best we can support our people especially those in the countryside who do not have enough money to see how best we can help them so that they too can dip their cows. Because in the villages, the grazing of cattle is communal, so if one person is dipping his animals and the rest are not, I think that is a futile mission because the cattle will mix and in the process even the ones that are dipped will pick up some disease."
The Nkana member of parliament observed that the quality of the cattle bred needed to be improved.
"We need to improve the breed, the breeds of our cattle especially the tradition breed, we can still help our people improve the quality of their cattle in the countryside," he said.
Kazabu said dairy farming was another area that needed much attention and investment hence the need for the ministry to promote it.
"I know that there is quite a lot that is happening already but there is room for us to even do better," Kazabu said.
He said he was privileged to witness how dairy farmers in Kenya had a mapped a route for selling and collecting milk and hoped that would be adopted by local dairy farmers in the country.
Kazabu said such an initiative was a meaningful way of not only empowering the local people but fighting poverty as well.
And speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Choma District commissioner Golden Nyambe, Banda said issues of animal disease had hampered the livestock sector for years, posing a huge challenge on the country's ability to export beef products.
"As a country, we have not been able to export beef products because of animal diseases as a ministry and as the PF government we are determined to have this situation corrected," he said.
Banda said the Ministry of Agriculture was determined to make sure that the livestock sector was able to hit the acceptable standards of meat products, including milk production.
"We need to plan and sensitise our farmers to diversify other than just the mono crop of maize, we want our farmers at every level to do a mixed kind of farming; we are encouraging them to keep livestock," he explained.
Banda said economically, people keeping livestock made more money than those who just had about ten hectares of a maize field, adding that such kind of economic strides needed to be understood by farmers.
He urged farmers not to stop growing maize completely because it was the country's staple food but to diversify.
"It is important to continue growing the crop to feed other countries in the region. As Zambia we have been recording bumper harvest but we can also improve on the storage for the grain facilities so that the quality of grain is maintained after harvest and for it to also hit a good market locally and international, so our effort should be in that direction," said Banda.
Labels: CATTLE, LUXON KAZABU
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Zambia projects milk output at 60 million litres by 2015
By Gift Chanda
Thu 17 May 2012, 08:50 CAT
ZAMBIA is targeting to increase annual milk output to 60 million litres by 2015, an industry official said yesterday. Jeremiah Kasalo, who is the Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ) executive director, said the country's annual milk output to the formal market currently stands at 44 million litres.
Kasalo said anticipated population increases and improved people's incomes both locally and globally is expected to push up demand and that would require countries to step up their production levels.
"The focus of the industry in the medium term would be to improve production and productivity of milk. We want to increase the number of small-holder farmers' involvement in the sector," Kasalo said in an interview. "By 2015 we want the number of small-scale farmers to increase to 5,000.
Currently, we have about 3, 000 smale-scale farmers directly supplying milk to the formal market but we want this number to increase to 5, 000. We also want to see that milk that is going to the formal market, because current it is about 44 million litres per year, increases to somewhere around 60 million litres."
He said to achieve the projected targets, it meant that farmers ought to have a source of good breeding stock at an affordable price.
"This means that government needs to step up the establishment of these breeding centres which will be able to produce good heifers which farmers can buy affordably," Kasalo said. "It will also be good for the government to look beyond maize production. A lot has been put towards maize production, it is time we looked at other agricultural areas.
If a similar arrangement like the maize subsidy under FISP can be undertaken for the livestock sector where farmers can access some subsidised drugs for their animals and feed for a period of time, we are not saying forever, that would boost the livestock sector and particularly milk production in the country."
He explained that as African countries move to open their markets, it is important that Zambia positions itself by becoming competitive.
Kasalo said this meant the country needed to quickly address constraints that normally push up production costs for farmers.
One of the impediments he said was access to cheap financing.
He said despite the government through the Central Bank trying to ease the interest rates by coming up with a benchmark rate for commercial banks to follow, the cost of borrowing in the country has remained high.
"We would want a reduced interest rate for the agriculture sector especially," he said. "The banks should respond to the policy rate by the Bank of Zambia."
And Kasalo urged the government to step up the monitoring of border posts to ensure that there is no illegal export of maize and wheat bran following the ban.
He said in the past, a ban would be imposed but the exports continued because of inadequate monitoring at the country's borders.
Kasalo said the move to ban the exports of bran was commendable but urged millers and feedstock traders to react to the move by lowering the prices of feedstock.
He said the two commodities that were banned from being exported are expected to flood the market, and that it would be ironic for the dealers not to obey the economic rules of supply and demand.
Kasalo also urged the millers to form partnerships with key players in the livestock sector in a bid to establish the actual feedstock requirements for the livestock sector.
"As an association what we would love is the best price for our farmers at the same time making the millers stay in business," said Kasalo.
"We don't want to command a price which will again make these millers fail to operate. We want a win-win situation. But definitely we want the prices to ease."
Labels: CATTLE, DAIRY
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N/W Province is ideal for livestock - PS
By Correspondent
Wed 14 Mar. 2012, 11:57 CAT
NORTH Western Province has attractive and ideal conditions for livestock development, says agriculture and livestock permanent secretary Dr David Shamulenge.
During a tour of Kanongesha and Kanyama cattle breeding centres in Ikelenge and Mwinilunga on Friday, Dr Shamulenge said livestock development would encourage meat processing in the region.
He said developing livestock farming in North Western Province would increase the region's market share for meat and dairy product exports to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.
He said to support the venture, the government had procured 95 head of cattle for Kanyama Cattle Breeding Centre which is under construction where chief Kanyama has given out 4, 000 hectares of land for the scheme.
Dr Shamulenge, however, expressed disappointment with the state of Kanongesha centre, where an initial cattle head count of 198 exotic Brahman breed supplied in 2005 has drastically dwindled to 39 due to thefts and mismanagement.
Senior Chief Kanongesha told Dr Shamulenge when he paid a courtesy call at his palace that he was disappointed that a scheme he spearheaded in his area to reduce poverty and create jobs for youths had been mismanaged.
Senior Chief Kanongesha, however, said he was hopeful that the PF government would provide new direction in helping North Western Province develop its livestock sector.
Dr Shamulenge assured chiefs Kanongesha and Kanyama that President Michael Sata's vision for North Western Province was to revive the region's potential for livestock development and strengthen agriculture so that the region could be a bread basket for the country.
Dr Shamulenge also said the essence of the breeding centers was to empower local communities with tools to maximise sources of income and reduce rural poverty.
Labels: CATTLE, CHIEF KANONGESHA, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE
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Farmers urged to complement Govt effort
Monday, 12 March 2012 00:00
Felex Share Herald Reporter
Government programmes that contribute in the resuscitation of the economy.
Addressing hundreds of villagers at Rwizi Business Centre last week during the handover of nine bulls to the constituency, Cde Nguni said Zimbabweans should not rely on handouts and work hard to “drive” their economy.
The bulls are part of Zanu-PF’s efforts to restock the national herd. The Mhondoro-Mubaira cattle breeding programme has so far seen more than 72 bulls, of different breeds, being introduced in the area.
Makera Cattle Company, a firm specialising in beef production, is working with the farmers to produce top quality calves, in a programme expected to augment farmers’ income.
The company is providing the bulls.
“The country will only move forward if you support developmental programmes initiated by Government,” he said.
“Let us be masters of own destiny. You must not wait for handouts from donors but should strive and be donors yourself.”
Cde Nguni said cattle ranching was vital for the resuscitation of the economy and should be taken seriously.
“Every type of farming you do is a business.
“If we restock our national herd, it means our economy would have also been boosted,” said Cde Nguni.
“You should not take this programme lightly, as it is essential to our lives.
“Beef exports we used to have are no longer there because people are not taking cattle ranching seriously,” Cde Nguni added.
Cattle breeding, he said, would improve the quality of beef in the country and would also provide farmers with income.
Cde Nguni, who is also the Minister of State in Vice President Joice Mujuru’s office, urged the farmers to safeguard the bulls.
“Amongst us are thieves and cattle rustlers who may want to sabotage this programme but we warn that stern action would be taken against those found on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
“The project is meant for your benefit and you should treasure things that are vital to your life.”
Zanu-PF’s production and labour department is running a cattle-breeding programme that is headed by Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire.
Chief Rwizi said this was another phase of Land Reform, which should be supported.
“Ousted Commercial farmers realised a lot from cattle ranching and there is nothing, which can stop us from surpassing their levels,” he said.
“This is another stage of the land reform and everyone should support the programme.
“Do not politicise the programme because at the end of the day everyone benefits.”
Makera Cattle company representative Mr Max Makuvise said: “We hope the programme would cover all the wards in Mhondoro-Mubaira before we move to other areas in the country.
“We want to have a win-win situation with farmers and this can only be successful if the farmers compliment these efforts.”
Labels: CATTLE, SYLVESTER NGUNI
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Farmers call for review of fees on livestock
By Gift Chanda
Tue 24 Jan. 2012, 12:00 CAT
FARMERS have called for a review of fees and charges imposed on key stakeholders in the livestock sector. In its review of council fees and charges on the livestock sector in Zambia, the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has observed that multiplicity of the fees and charges imposed by the council, the police and the veterinary department have significantly contributed to the sluggish growth of the livestock sector.
The union observed that famers and other key stakeholders incur huge costs as a result of the multiplicity of the fees and charges thereby hampering the growth and development of the sector.
"Despite its huge potential for growth, the development of the livestock sector in Zambia has been stifled by a number of barriers. One of the barriers hampering the growth and development of this sector relates to the multiplicity of the fees in the sector," the union stated in a recently released report.
"The government should streamline the different fees and charges imposed on livestock producers, traders and processors to enhance the competiveness of the livestock sector in line with the objectives of the primary sector reform programmes."
The farmers' union further recommended that the fees should not be used as revenue measure and be minimal for the purposes of covering administrative costs in respect of the services rendered to farming communities by local authorities.
"It is plausible that the size and multiplicity of livestock related fees by different government departments in Zambia has implications on the competiveness of the livestock sector," he said.
"In addition to these fees, livestock traders and producers pay other taxes such as excise duty and value added tax. These fees increase the overall cost of doing business in the livestock."
According to the union, stakeholders in the sector pay a minimal K20,000 anti-theft fee for moving a unit animals, veterinary fee for moving cattle and chicken out of town at about K5,000 per animal.
Other charges include meat inspection fees paid to the local councils, dry Kapenta levy, company charges on fresh fish, annual charges for health permit, fees for food handling certificate, fees for fresh fish certificate of origin and zonal charges, among others.
Labels: CATTLE, ZNFU
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Zimbabwe, Sudan to co-operate on livestock
Wednesday, 03 August 2011 02:00
ZIMBABWE and the Republic of Sudan will soon be co-operating in the livestock sector with particular emphasis on cattle and sheep, an official said on Sunday. Sudanese ambassador to Zimbabwe Elsiddieg Abdala said that the two countries were in the process of drafting an agreement to formalise the co-operation.
"I have met Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made and we discussed areas of co-operation," he said. "Zimbabwe has the best type of cattle and Sudan has the best type of sheep in the world," he added.
Ambassador Abdala said scientists from the two countries would soon be meeting to share expertise on the two types of animals.
He said Sudan also wanted to learn the processing of hides and skins from Zimbabwe, which used to have a vibrant tannery industry.
The leather sector in Zimbabwe has suffered great losses due to the hyperinflationary environment that the companies were operating under over the past decade.
This was after Western countries imposed an economic embargo on the country as retribution for embarking on agrarian reforms.
Employment figures in the sector have tumbled to about 3 000 from a peak of 12 000 before the economic meltdown took hold.
The farmers, suppliers of the cowhide and skin were failing to maintain their herd due to the low prices that the beasts were fetching on the market.
This led to the shortage of the raw material as well as its low quality, with quantities of hides and skins produced monthly standing at 35 000, a figure that can be increased to 45 000 under full production.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Abdala said there was room for increasing economic co-operation between the two countries, both of which are under economic sanctions from Western countries.
He said the difficult economic situation that Zimbabwe experienced during the past decade had greatly affected relations with Sudan as it was difficult to conduct business transactions using the local currency.
"Now there is no reason for not encouraging business between the two countries," he said.
He noted that Sudan used to import 5 percent of its construction steel and 100 percent of its tobacco from Zimbabwe, but this had since stopped due to the economic difficulties that the later experienced. - New Ziana.
Labels: CATTLE, JOSEPH MADE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE MECHANISATION AND IRRIGATION (ZIMBABWE), SUDAN, ZIMBABWE
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Botswana to export cattle to Zimbabwe
Sunday, 10 July 2011 01:09 Agriculture
From Bulawayo Bureau
AN outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana has forced the neighbouring country’s government to export more than 20 000 head of cattle from infected zones to Zimbabwe for direct slaughter and to donate 600 000 doses to vaccinate the Zimbabwean herd, it has been learnt.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made and his Botswana counterpart, Ms Christiaan de Graaf, are expected to officially sign the deal tomorrow in Bulawayo.
According to reports from Botswana, the neighbouring government suspended the slaughter of 23 000 cattle in areas affected by FMD and will instead sell cattle from these areas to Zimbabwe.
The affected areas are zones six and seven in the North East and Bobirwa respectively.
The planned sale of the cattle to Zimbabwe was confirmed by chief agriculture information officer Ms Boikhutso Rabasha in a telephone interview on Monday.
“I can confirm that the cattle will be sold to Zimbabwe once the necessary logistics have been concluded,” said Ms
Rabasha, who said she was not sure of the total number of cattle affected.
She did, however, confirm that the Botswana government had initially intended to kill 21 000 cattle in zone six and a further 2 000 in zone seven.
Ms Rabasha said only vaccinated cattle would be sold to Zimbabwe.
Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Polex Moyo confirmed that an agreement had been reached by the two countries and was only awaiting official endorsement and allayed fears of infected cattle finding their way into the country.
“We will be having a meeting with officials from Botswana who will be accompanied by their minister and we expect the deal to be signed between their minister and ours on Monday (tomorrow).
“The cattle that will come into the country are not infected but are from an affected area and Botswana has even promised to assist us in vaccinating our cattle,” he said.
Dr Moyo said Botswana had a policy which approved the slaughter of infected cattle and those in affected areas largely because of their strong fiscus.
“Botswana cannot slaughter their infected or affected cattle in Gaborone because the abattoirs there are meant for export and their abattoirs in Francistown don’t have the capacity to handle the large numbers,” he said.
The imported cattle would be slaughtered at the Cold Storage Company’s (CSC) abattoirs. CSC’s state-of-the-art Bulawayo abattoir is probably the best slaughtering plant in sub-Sahara Africa.
Before the demise of the company its sophisticated and integrated facilities which included abattoirs in Chinhoyi, Marondera and Masvingo had a slaughter capacity of up to 600 000 head of cattle per year.
The Botswana government has promised to compensate its farmers P1 700 per killed animal in an effort to eradicate the disease.
Botswana, which believes the outbreak of FMD emanated from Zimbabwe, fears that if it does not intervene and assist its neighbour, 200 000 cattle would be threatened with infection in zone six and the potential spread of the disease to other areas, which would be accompanied by huge social and economic consequences.
Already vaccination of cattle against FMD in areas close to Botswana has begun under the supervision of Botswana veterinary officials, with an order of 600 000 doses being made by Zimbabwe and 200 000 of the doses had already been supplied by the Botswana Vaccine Institute.
Agriculture, especially livestock rearing, is one of the main contributors to the Botswana economy.
FMD is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids. The virus causes a high fever for two or three days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.
FMD is a severe plague for animal farming, since it is highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals through aerosols, through contact with contaminated farming equipment, vehicles, clothing or feed, and by domestic and wild predators. It has economic consequences in that the affected country cannot export to another, especially the EU.
Labels: BOTSWANA, CATTLE, CATTLE DISEASE
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Botswana to export cattle to Zimbabwe
Sunday, 10 July 2011 01:09 Agriculture
From Bulawayo Bureau
AN outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Botswana has forced the neighbouring country’s government to export more than 20 000 head of cattle from infected zones to Zimbabwe for direct slaughter and to donate 600 000 doses to vaccinate the Zimbabwean herd, it has been learnt.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Dr Joseph Made and his Botswana counterpart, Ms Christiaan de Graaf, are expected to officially sign the deal tomorrow in Bulawayo.
According to reports from Botswana, the neighbouring government suspended the slaughter of 23 000 cattle in areas affected by FMD and will instead sell cattle from these areas to Zimbabwe.
The affected areas are zones six and seven in the North East and Bobirwa respectively.
The planned sale of the cattle to Zimbabwe was confirmed by chief agriculture information officer Ms Boikhutso Rabasha in a telephone interview on Monday.
“I can confirm that the cattle will be sold to Zimbabwe once the necessary logistics have been concluded,” said Ms
Rabasha, who said she was not sure of the total number of cattle affected.
She did, however, confirm that the Botswana government had initially intended to kill 21 000 cattle in zone six and a further 2 000 in zone seven.
Ms Rabasha said only vaccinated cattle would be sold to Zimbabwe.
Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Polex Moyo confirmed that an agreement had been reached by the two countries and was only awaiting official endorsement and allayed fears of infected cattle finding their way into the country.
“We will be having a meeting with officials from Botswana who will be accompanied by their minister and we expect the deal to be signed between their minister and ours on Monday (tomorrow).
“The cattle that will come into the country are not infected but are from an affected area and Botswana has even promised to assist us in vaccinating our cattle,” he said.
Dr Moyo said Botswana had a policy which approved the slaughter of infected cattle and those in affected areas largely because of their strong fiscus.
“Botswana cannot slaughter their infected or affected cattle in Gaborone because the abattoirs there are meant for export and their abattoirs in Francistown don’t have the capacity to handle the large numbers,” he said.
The imported cattle would be slaughtered at the Cold Storage Company’s (CSC) abattoirs. CSC’s state-of-the-art Bulawayo abattoir is probably the best slaughtering plant in sub-Sahara Africa.
Before the demise of the company its sophisticated and integrated facilities which included abattoirs in Chinhoyi, Marondera and Masvingo had a slaughter capacity of up to 600 000 head of cattle per year.
The Botswana government has promised to compensate its farmers P1 700 per killed animal in an effort to eradicate the disease.
Botswana, which believes the outbreak of FMD emanated from Zimbabwe, fears that if it does not intervene and assist its neighbour, 200 000 cattle would be threatened with infection in zone six and the potential spread of the disease to other areas, which would be accompanied by huge social and economic consequences.
Already vaccination of cattle against FMD in areas close to Botswana has begun under the supervision of Botswana veterinary officials, with an order of 600 000 doses being made by Zimbabwe and 200 000 of the doses had already been supplied by the Botswana Vaccine Institute.
Agriculture, especially livestock rearing, is one of the main contributors to the Botswana economy.
FMD is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids. The virus causes a high fever for two or three days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.
FMD is a severe plague for animal farming, since it is highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals through aerosols, through contact with contaminated farming equipment, vehicles, clothing or feed, and by domestic and wild predators. It has economic consequences in that the affected country cannot export to another, especially the EU.
Labels: BOTSWANA, CATTLE
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Zaka urged to rally behind Zanu-PF
Sunday, 05 June 2011 22:49
Zanu-PF National Chairman Cde Simon Khaya-Moyo has urged people in Zaka district to rally behind the only revolutionary party that has the people at heart ahead of the upcoming elections.
Cde Khaya Moyo was speaking at a field day held in Zaka district over the weekend where he told Zanu-PF supporters that the party must reclaim the seats taken by the opposition. He said
Zanu-PF was the only party that stood against the British colonisation to liberate the black majority.
He said it was high time people realised that Zanu-PF is the only party with a traceable history and has attained tangible results in fighting for the empowerment of Zimbabweans and neo-colonialism.
"I urge everyone of you to look back at our history. If we revisit our history, we will not give away the country to the British and their opposition parties that have mushroomed this country.
"Zimbabweans must know that this country was won through the combined efforts of men and women of stamina and foresight, the likes of Josiah Tongogara, Edson Zvobgo, Jason Moyo and Herbert Chitepo to mention just a few.
"We must remember that Zimbabwe is a sovereign state which came about through the spilling of blood.
"It is against this background that we have to put this in mind when we select a candidate for the next election and see whether we are selecting a person who will carry forward the ideas of the revolution," he said.
He said the people must not betray the liberation war fighters by inviting the hand of the white men back into our affairs through entertaining Western-sponsored opposition parties.
Cde Khaya Moyo added that Zanu PF was the only party that has advocated for the total control of our resources through indigenisation and empowerment, a move that has created tension with the West who continuously want to control and manipulate Zimbabwe's resources for their own benefit.
Cde Khaya Moyo said the GPA has overstayed and has become a hindering block for the people's party to fully operate since the opposition parties they are working with do not defend or support the wills of the people but rather they put forward the agendas of our detractors.
"As we approach the elections, the GPA must be buried the same way we did to the Sadc Tribunal.
"There is no way we work properly whilst surrounded by sellouts who are working hand in glove with the people who want Zimbabwe to starve through the imposition of sanctions," he said.
He said Zimbabwe was a peaceful country with a lot of minerals and voting for the opposition parties was allowing the country's detractors to meddle in our affairs and to dictate to us what to do.
Cde Khaya Moyo also warned peo-ple against being manipulated and stirring divisions saying that the Unity Accord was an irreversible pact that has brought peace and stability in the country.
"Some want to create tension amongst us, disturbing the unity that was put in place by our founding fathers. They must know that the Unity Accord is a strong pact for the people of Zimbabwe that aims at promoting peace and unity," he said.
Cde Khaya Moyo bemoaned the status of schools in the area in particular Nemauku Primary School which is still facing a lot of challenges despite the disbursement of tdhe Constituency Development Fund.
He said the fact that nothing has been done by the Zaka Central legislator to help the school after being given US$50 000 for the development of the constituency was clear testimony that the MDC does not carry forward the wills of the people and was not progressive.
He however expressed gratitude to the teachers for their total expression that they are patriotic by continuing to soldier on despite harsh working conditions.
"President Mugabe is going to ensure that civil servants are catered for despite efforts by (Minister) Biti to keep on holding pockets," he said.
He added that people must desist from violence.
Meanwhile, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo launched the Zanu-PF Community based National Herd Rebuilding Intervention Programme in Bikita which seeks to restore the national herd and promote the improvement of
better cattle breeds which has declined over the years.
The villagers are to select 50 to 100 best cows, which will be inspected by the veterinary services for suitability to be artificially inseminated.
Cde Khaya Moyo said the programme is part of Zanu PF's concerted efforts to mobilise communities to embark on various developmental programmes.
"People must embrace increasing productivity in the breeding of cattle because there are so many benefits we derive from cattle rearing.
"Cattle are a means of income. Traditionally, owning a cow means you are very rich. Thus we seek to improve our communal herds so that we prioritize on quality on our herds," he said.
Due to the frequency of droughts, Zimbabwe's national herd has been greatly affected and the introduction of the programme is set to boost and revive the quality of cows, meat and draught power.
Labels: CATTLE, SIMON KHAYA MOYO, ZANU-PF
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Tobacco deliveries near 100 million kg mark
Business Reporter
THE total amount of tobacco delivered to the country’s two auction continue to inch toward the 100 million-kg mark with almost 97 million kilogrammes having been delivered last week.
By Thursday a total of 96,9 million kilogrammes had been sold at the two floors at an average price of US$2,96/kg raised US$287,1 million. This compares favourably with the 56,4 million-kg that was sold at the same last year at an average price of US3/kg grossing US$169,2 million.
Of the 96,6 million kilogrammes, 59,2 million kilogrammes valued at US$184 million was sold under the contract system at an average price of US$3,11/ kg.
The balance of 37,6 million valued at US$103,1 million was sold under the auction system at an average price of US$2,74/kg.
In terms of the 37,6 million kilogrammes sold under the auction system, a total of 19,4 million kilogrammes worth US$52,8 million was sold under the system at the Tobacco Sales Floor at an average price of US$2,72/kg.
The remainder of 18,2 million kg worth US$50,2 million was sold at the Zimbabwe Tobacco Auction Centre at an average price of US$2,76/kg.
In his mid-term review last week Finance Minister Tendai Biti said agriculture would grow by 18,8 percent this year up on last year’s 14,9 percent.
The growth was expected to be driven by tobacco, up 67,3 percent from 55,6 million kilogrammes in 2009 to 93 million kilogrammes, maize, up 3 percent from 1,24 million tonnes to 1,33 million tonnes; and beef up 2 percent from 93 000 tonnes to 95 000 tonnes.
He added that there was need to sustain viable tobacco pricing in the liberalised marketing environment.
This, he said should offer scope for increased hectarage under tobacco production over the coming seasons.
The tobacco industry has so far reviewed its initial target for the year of 77 million kilogrammes twice so far.
At the end of last month the target was set at 93 million but this has since been reviewed again to 114 million which would mark the first time that the deliveries have topped the 100 million kilogramme-mark in the past year.
During the past eight years deliveries plummeted from about 165,6 million kilogramme in 2002 to as low as 35 million kilogramme in 2008 before rising to 56 million last year.
Tobacco is one of the country's top foreign currency earners contributing 26 percent to Gross Domestic Product last year.
The current marketing season had been affected by a number of challenges such as poor prices, shortages of wrapping paper, congestion and corruption by some employees at the auction floors. These have however been dealt with.
Labels: CATTLE, MAIZE, TOBACCO
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World Bank urges Zambia to improve livestock industry
By Fridah Zinyama
Tue 25 May 2010, 04:01 CAT
Increasing cattle production is good at reducing poverty in rural areas
ZAMBIA will be able to raise about US $1.5 billion per annum if it matches Kenya cattle production, a World Bank consultant Sunil Sinha has said.
Countries like South Africa, Bostwana and Kenya have taken advantage of their livestock industry and are earning large amounts of money from both beef and milk exports.
In a presentation during a symposium organised by the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) and the World Bank last week titled ‘What would it take for Zambia’s cattle industry to achieve its potential’, Sinha said Zambia’s cattle industry had a lot of potential which was still underutilised.
“Zambia has four times more grazing than arable land, three agricultural zones which are suited to livestock and the country if it matched Kenya’s cattle population would have about US $4.5 billion additional value in assets,” he said.
“Furthermore, the cattle industry would increase its GDP contribution to the national treasury to 10 per cent instead of the current one per cent.”
Sinha said once Zambia improved its cattle production, which would lead to the production of more beef and milk, it could export its products to neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is a huge market.
“Zambia could emulate countries like Namibia and Bostwana which supply beef to South Africa and export to Europe,” he said. “Apart from Congo, Angola is also a good market for beef products.”
Sinha observed that the local market was currently very small as Zambians consume very little beef and diary products.
“Apart from the regional markets, Zambia could take advantage of the international markets which are huge and very competitive,” he said.
“At the moment world beef and dairy trade is worth about US $50 billion and above, a share which Zambia could be a part of if it got its act together.”
Sinha said apart from the financial benefits, increasing cattle production was good at reducing poverty in rural areas.
“At the moment for rural households, cattle are the largest asset which they own,” he said. “There is need to help the traditional cattle farmers to improve on their farming techniques so that they can take advantage of their assets cattle.”
Sinha added that if the cattle industry was to grow in Zambia, there was need to reduce the cost of production as it undermined competitiveness.
“At the moment, the cost of feed, drugs and medicines costs higher in Zambia than in South Africa,” he said. “Other factors like access to veterinary services are also affecting the increase in cattle population in Zambia.”
Sinha said high fuel costs and constant power outages contributed to the high cost of doing business in Zambia.
“Lack of infrastructure like rail-lines and the use of road transport made Zambia to be three times more expensive than countries like South Africa,” he said. “And financial inaccessibility also made it difficult for farmers to access the much needed finances to grow their businesses.”
Sinha said despite the challenges which have to be overcome for the livestock industry to grow in Zambia, the sector was growing and attracting more investment.
He added that the environment was currently not very enabling as there was poor policy and lack of institutional framework.
“Government also has to ensure that disease outbreaks are controlled and other infrastructures like dipping tanks are availed to ensure total disease eradication in the country,” he said. “Breeding services should be improved and government should invest more into research.”
Sinha said both the beef and the diary sectors could be improved if bottlenecks which farmers faced were dealt with.
And a Zambeef agronomist Felix Lupindula said there was need for the government to improve the land tenure system for farmers which would allow them to invest in their land.
“At the moment it is very difficult for farmers to invest in dip tanks and wire fencing as they do not own their land,’ he said. “Owning land will help farmers to practice better land management such as crop rotation which will ensure that the land is not over grazed.”
Lupindula said traditional cattle farmers should be compelled to dip their animals at a particular time every year, so that animal diseases are reduced.
And Hiefer Zambia executive director James Kasongo said the government should put in place a strategy to curb animal diseases in the country instead of always fire fighting.
“Government should also come up with a livestock development policy which will help to chart the future of the industry,” Kasongo said.
Currently, Zambia’s low level of competitiveness has been constraining its growth, diversification and prosperity.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index, Zambia is not a competitive place in which to do business as it ranks 112th out of the 133 countries included in the 2009 index.
Few Zambian industries are internationally competitive, only 10 per cent of the labour force is employed in the formal sector and rural poverty is increasing.
There is urgent need, heightened by the global financial crisis, to reduce obstacles to business formation, growth and employment.
Labels: CATTLE, EAZ, World Bank
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UPND takes 16 heads of cattle to Solwezi for victory celebrations
By Zumani Katasefa
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
THE UPND has taken 16 heads of cattle to Solwezi for victory celebrations starting today to Tuesday.
UPND vice-president Richard Kapita said in an interview yesterday that the cattle were meant to feed the constituents as a way of thanking them for voting for the UPND-PF pact candida
“We are just offloading the cattle, they are 16 of them,” said Kapita.
Kapita said they left a cow in Chingola, which was promised to PF members when they won the by-election.
Kapita said 10 of the cattle would be slaughtered in Solwezi for the residents while the remainder would be taken to Kangwena Ward, Mwinilunga, Kabompo, Nyakulenga Ward in Zambezi and one for Mufumbwe.
“Mufumbwe, that was the only ward by-election we lost but we still have to fete the people for their effort,” said Kapita.
Several Kitwe residents honked and waved the pact symbol as the truck carrying the animals passed through town.
Lumba beat MMD's Albert Chifita by over a thousand votes to claim the seat left vacant following the death of MMD's Ben Tetamashimba.
Labels: CATTLE, UPND
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Govt incurs huge bill in delivering cow donated to Tanzania President Kikwete
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 5:38:19 AM
GOVERNMENT has dispatched a six-man delegation to deliver a pregnant Friesian cow to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. And sources have revealed that the government has spent over K68 million in per diem for 10 days on the six officers that have been sent to deliver the cow to President Kikwete in Tanzania.
The black and white cow which was given to President Kikwete by President Rupiah Banda at the Ndola International Trade Fair early this month was transported to Tanzania by road last Saturday.
According to government sources, each of the six officers led by Copperbelt Provincial veterinary officer Dr Alishenke Mutemwa was given US $220 per night equivalent to K1,148,400 [at K5,220 per US $] as out-of-pocket allowance for 10 days.
The sources said Dr Mutemwa was accompanied by a senior animal and extension officer at the veterinary department in Ndola, Charles Lwanga, two drivers one for the cow and the other for the delegation, an imprest holder and another government official from Cabinet office in Ndola.
The sources said the delegation left in two vehicles one of which was a grey Toyota Hilux registration number GRZ 788 BV and a white Mitsubishi Canter registration number GRZ 332 CA, which was carrying the cow.
When contacted for comment, Coperbelt permanent secretary Villie Lombanya confirmed that government officers had been dispatched to deliver the cow to President Kikwete and justified the US $220 daily per diem.
However, he denied that six officers had been assigned saying only two were on that mission and that the rest were from the Tanzanian High Commission.
Asked why the cow was not put on a train through the Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA), Lombanya said the cow was pregnant and that the government did not want it to deliver in transit.
And when asked if each of the officers had been given out-of-pocket allowances of US $220 each for 10 days, Lombanya said he was not privy to the details and that he just facilitated the dispatch of the cow.
"Well, I don't know those details," said Lombanya. "What I did was to facilitate. That was done by Cabinet Office in Lusaka. If they have been given US $220 each per day that is normal; that is government's foreign travel per diem for east Africa because each region has its own rate and it is provided for in the circular [foreign travel]. That is in order and they have to live anyway; they are on duty."
Labels: CATTLE, JAKAYA KIKWETE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Govt dispatches 6-man delegation to deliver pregnant cow to Kikwete
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 5:36:47 AM
GOVERNMENT has dispatched a six-man delegation to deliver a pregnant Friesian cow to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. And sources have revealed that the government has spent over K68 million in per diem for 10 days on the six officers that have been sent to deliver the cow to President Kikwete in Tanzania.
The black and white cow which was given to President Kikwete by President
Rupiah Banda at the Ndola International Trade Fair early this month was transported to Tanzania by road last Saturday.
According to government sources, each of the six officers led by Copperbelt Provincial veterinary officer Dr Alishenke Mutemwa was given US $220 per night equivalent to K1,148,400 [at K5,220 per US $] as out-of-pocket allowance for 10 days.
The sources said Dr Mutemwa was accompanied by a senior animal and extension officer at the veterinary department in Ndola, Charles Lwanga, two drivers - one for the cow and the other for the delegation - an imprest holder and another government official from Cabinet office in Ndola.
The sources said the delegation left in two vehicles, a grey Toyota Hilux registration number GRZ 788 BV and a white Mitsubishi Canter registration number GRZ 332 CA, which was carrying the cow.
When contacted for comment, Coperbelt permanent secretary Villie Lombanya confirmed that government officers had been dispatched to deliver the cow to President Kikwete.
However, he denied that six officers had been assigned. He said only two were on that mission and that the rest were from the Tanzanian High Commission.
Asked why the cow was not put on a train through the Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA), Lombanya said the cow was pregnant and that the government did not want it to deliver in transit.
And when asked if each of the officers had been given out-of-pocket allowances of US $220 each for 10 days, Lombanya said he was not privy to the details and that he just facilitated the dispatch of the cow.
"Well, I don't know those details," said Lombanya. "What I did was to facilitate. That was done by Cabinet Office in Lusaka. If they have been given US $220 each per day that is normal; that is government's foreign travel per diem for east Africa because each region has its own rate and it is provided for in the circular [foreign travel]. That is in order and they have to live anyway; they are on duty."
Labels: CATTLE, JAKAYA KIKWETE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Mia family implicated in cattle theft scandal
By Nyasa Times
Published: July 22, 2009
Livestock farmers in Malawi’s lower shire districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje are accusing the Mia family where the Defence Minister in President Bingu wa Mutharika’s government hails from of buying stolen cattle, Nyasa Times can reveal.
The family of the minister Sidik Mia (pictured) who is also Member of Parliament for Chikwawa Mkombezi are the owners of S&A Cold Storage butchery and according to farmers Nyasa Times spoken to, the Mia’s have agents in strategic trading centres in the two districts who buy cattle from cattle rustlers in the middle of the night at a very cheap price.
The situation is said to be worse in villages surrounding Ngabu and Nchalo in Chikwawa, Fatima and Bangula in Nsanje. The farmers said the cattle are transferred the same night to either Mia’s farm in Ngabu or to Cold storage headquarters in Blantyre where they are slaughtered and sold.
In Bangula, one livestock farmer who only identified himself as Bango said he has information to the effect that Mia has agents particularly one business man answering by the name Mr. Karim and has a group of men who go into the villages at night to steal cattle in turn they are given money for their crooked services.
Bango said by buying stolen cattle, the Mia family is making huge profits as it buys the much sought after beef at a half down price than buying straight from the farmers.
A 200 kg cow is sold at K80 000 while Mia through his agents is buying the same at as low as K40 000.
Said Bango: “There have been series of livestock robberies for years now and each incident is reported to the police but nothing is being done to bring the culprits to book. I’ve got information that the stolen cattle are bought by the family through their men that they have placed in various trading centres.
“Last year my colleague stormed Mia’s farm in Ngabu after his two cows were stolen. He saw the two cows in the company of several others…he reported the matter to Ngabu police who promised that they’ll investigate the matter but up to now almost a year down the police have not yet concluded their investigations.”
Bango added: “This is not the first time that a villager has stormed Mia’s farm to look for missing livestock….however efforts to take the matter always hit a blank wall as you are aware the man has money and our justice system doesn’t favour the poor.”
Another livestock theft victim of Ngabu who pleaded with Nyasa Times not to have his name published for fear of political persecution said had his five goats and five cattle stolen in a space of one week and he suspected that they were sold to the Mia family.
He said what is surprising though is that at first the family used to go into the villages to buy cattle for both their farm and cold storage butchery but now they are no longer doing so.
Another farmer from Bangura answering by the name Ndidyemo said: “My cattle and goats were stolen and I together with some villagers searched all over the village soon after I had noticed that robbers broke into the kraal but no avail and after we had given up we decided to go home that was around 2 am and on our way back a huge truck with its trailer drove passed us and it bore signs and registration of one which Mia uses to carry cattle from his farm to Blantyre.”
When contacted Chikwawa police publicist said he was ignorant about the story and as such cannot comment while his Nsanje counterpart said he only heard about the issue as a rumor but nobody has come so far to complain about stolen cattle being sold to Mia’s farm.
The two publicists however said separately that there are too many stories about cattle in lower shire and every one is blaming another for the loss of cattle.
But an officer at Ngabu police confirmed receiving complaints from the villagers and that some indeed stormed the farm to search for their missing cattle.
However the officer who pleaded for anonymity said that although some villagers were able to identify their livestock it is difficult to tell whether they say the truth or not because cattle resemble.
The other reason according to the officer why police shows no interest in conducting thorough investigations on the reports is that Mia family has over the years established itself as political dinosaur of the Shire valley region and they are the ones who help in fighting cattle theft.
The officer went on to say that most of the complainants are not able to bring concrete evidence and as such they treat the complaints as malicious and coming from those that do no like the family.
“The Mia’s are very kind people and they are there for everyone but like every one successful they have enemies too who would like to tarnish their image. The police do not want to take part in personal fights by individuals nor will police be used to fight political differences between parties and individuals,” confirmed the police man.
Labels: CATTLE, CATTLE RUSTLING, SIDIK MIA
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Government in bid to boost national herd
Business Reporter
The Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services has introduced programmes aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of cattle across the country. The national herd currently stands at 5,1 million and the number is expected to increase as a result of the programmes. The department’s principal director, Dr Stuart Hargreaves said the Government was putting a lot of effort to increase the quality and number of pedigree cattle.
"Another smaller project is a farmer to farmer programme whereby commercial farmers are assisting communal farmers breed pedigree cattle and this is being done in Bikita, Triangle and Mwenezi areas," said Dr Hargreaves.
He added that there had been a decrease in the number of pedigree breeders for the past few years but the situation was bound to improve.
There are 48 registered pedigree breeders in the country with 6 000 pedigree cattle.
This programme is important because pedigree cattle from he seedstock for improved pure breeds, which will result in the production of ‘true to type animals’.
Dr Hargreaves said his department was also involved in the rehabilitation of dip tanks to improve the services especially in the region 4 and 5.
"This is an ongoing programme and we have received assistance from Help Germany and the European Union are assisting the programmes," said Dr Hargreaves.
The department of livestock and veterinary services administers 4 000 dip tanks countrywide.
Meanwhile the condition of all classes of livestock across the country is satisfactory due to adequate grazing in most farming sectors except in some communal areas.
Overgrazing especially in communal areas has resulted in poor grazing.
Recent crop and livestock assessment report revealed that there were districts where herbage quantity would not be able to last until the onset of the next season due to patchy rains received in areas such as Binga, Tsholotsho and the Zambezi Valley.
Although stockfeeds were readily available on the market, their prices were too high for some farmers.
Generally there is adequate water available for livestock from rivers, streams, dams, weirs and boreholes. However water availability will be a challenge in drier areas after winter.
Dipping frequency is still erratic in most districts and this has resulted in high incidence of ticks and tickborne diseases.
Tickborne diseases such as Redwater and gall sickness still remain a challenge to most farmers while common wet season diseases such as Lumpy Skin were reporter in most districts.
Farmers were not affording drugs and chemicals to vaccinate their livestock. Coccidiosis and Newcastle were indicated as major diseases affecting poultry. Cattle sales have decreasing because of the early harvesting of summer crops. Previously, farmers were selling their livestock and this was observed mostly in the communal areas.
Indications are that the livestock sales were mainly done through barter trade where livestock was being exchanged grain. Due to early harvesting of maize, the barter trade cases have reduced since some farmers now prefer cash sales to cater for their daily incidentals.
Prices for cattle range from US$120 500 per beast while goats are ranging from US$ 740, prices of sheep are generally higher than those of goats.
Prices of livestock are reportedly generally high in the southern provinces compared to northern areas due to demand and differences in quality of livestock.
Labels: CATTLE, STUART HARGREAVES
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ZNFU advises govt to take livestock production seriously
Written by George Zulu in Monze
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 6:55:53 AM
ZAMBIA National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Monze district Chairperson Simon Malambo has asked the government to take livestock production seriously for Zambia to attract international attention in the industry.
And livestock and fisheries minister Bradford Machila has called for stiffer punishment against people found wanting by the courts of law for stock theft in order to address increased cattle thefts in Southern Province.
During a meeting with farmers in Monze, Malambo said there was need for the government to find other ways of growing the country’s economy through improved livestock farming and production to attract the international demands.
He said the current global economic crisis should be a wake-up call for leaders to implement diversification than heavily depending on copper mining alone.
“Agriculture, particularly livestock production can be one of Zambia’s major foreign exchange earners as long as we provide the required attention such as effective disease control and preventive measures. We need proper support, the sector can fare favourably on the export market and Zambia should be able to enter the European market in livestock production exports,” said Malambo.
And Machila said there was need to stiffen stock theft laws to safeguard the livestock sector in the province.
“I am distressed by reports that even people who are supposed to protect livestock (police) are facilitating cattle rustlers to move animals from one district to another. I take full responsibilities in this ministry, so there is need to increase sentences for those found wanting by the courts of law and what I believe is we should state a high minimal sentence as opposed to what is found in the laws of the land,” he said.
“I am very confident and certain that we shall get the support that we need in Parliament when we bring the bill to have the law amended. I also got concerned about complaints by the involvement of some police officers abetting cattle rustling in the province; we shall discuss the best way out of this with the Minister of Home Affairs,” said Machila who was also given a one-month ultimatum in which to have the matter of livestock theft addressed in the province.
Labels: CATTLE, SIMON MALAMBO, ZNFU
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Mwanachingwala bans headmen from clearing livestock
Written by Henry Chibulu in Mazabuka
Monday, April 20, 2009 4:35:57 AM
CHIEF Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka in Southern Province has with immediate effect banned all village headmen in his chiefdom from clearing livestock because of their involvement in cattle rustling.
Village headmen are required by law to certify animals bought from their respective villages by signing a Police stock movement permit as a requirement for cattle traders before the animals are taken to the Police station for final clearance.
But chief Mwanachingwala told ZANIS in Mazabuka on Saturday that he had taken such a stance because cases of cattle rustling were rife in his chiefdom and some village headmen were allegedly conniving with cattle rustlers to clear suspected stolen animals.
He said he would instead handle the clearing of livestock.
The traditional leader said this would be done to reduce the high cases of cattle rustling in his chiefdom.
He said it was sad that traditional rulers who were supposed to be the custodian of laws were working hand in hand to steal from the poor.
Chief Mwanachingwala attributed this to poverty.
Magoye member of parliament, Bennie Mweemba equally registered serious concern over the rampant reports of cattle rustling in his constituency.
Mweemba instead accused Police of not doing enough to curb the rising cases of cattle rustling because some officers were involved in selling cattle.
Labels: CATTLE, CHIEF MWANACHINGWALA
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