Sat, 23 Sep 2017 09:21:58 +0000
By Davis Mulenga
GOVERNMENT is to step up efforts, including enhanced branding and surveillance to wipe out prevalent stock theft as the sector promises a robust growth, says Livestock and Fisheries Minister Michael Katambo.
Livestock specialists have predicted a robust growth of the sector as domestic and export markets grew.
“Rampant stock thefts pose a significant threat to the growth of the livestock sector that makes up 42 percent of agriculture’s contribution to the gross domestic product,” Mr Katambo said when he officiated at the 2017 Stanbic Bank Livestock Auction in Lusaka.
Mr Katambo was speaking at the just ended annual Stanbic Bank sponsored livestock auction at the show grounds at the weekend
According to police statistics, 1,717 cases of stock thefts were reported from January 2016 to June 2016. This is an increase of 12.7 percent compared to the previous year in the same period. Of the reported cases, more than 700 arrests were made, an increase of 27.5 percent from the previous year.
Stock theft leads to slaughter of animals having potential of high genetic value, constrains expansion of livestock farming, and has a negative ripple effect on the economy.
“The proliferation of such cases is a huge setback, especially that it is a major source of livelihood for small-scale farmers. As such we will intensify branding, surveillance and thorough scrutiny at checkpoints,” Mr Katambo said.
To speed up the pace of development of the livestock sector, the minister called for the introduction of superior breeds.
Mr Katambo also reiterated Government’s drive to artificial reproduction centres nationwide as a major driver for development.
“These measures should quickly translate into greater livestock supply, and put Zambia in a position to export surplus, bolstering incomes of producers,” he said.
Stanbic chairperson Austin Mwape said sponsorship of the annual livestock auction was closely aligned to the government’s economic diversification through agriculture.
“Investing heavily in supporting agribusinesses is one dimension, the sponsorship of the annual livestock auction is another dimension, and the recent facilitation of a national strategic session in growing the livestock sector, done in partnership with the University of Africa, is another vivid example of the many areas of the bank’s support aligned to government’s diversification of the economy through agriculture,” Dr Mwape said.
Herd Book Society of Zambia chairman Quentin Cantlay said this year’s auction had the best pedigree animals, an indication of bright outlook for the livestock sector.
A majestic Bonsmara, weighing 1,030kg, commanded the highest price of K82, 000 for a breeding bull.
Another bull, Santa Gertrudis, weighing 890kg sold for K60,000 while a Suevan Boran, weighing 293kg fetched the highest price of K7000 in the female category.
