Muchinga to boost livestock production

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 10:27:06 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

MUCHINGA Province is likely to record an increase in livestock production in 2018 and years to come, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Michael Katambo has said.

Mr Katambo said Government, had put in place policies and programmes aimed at empowering small-scale livestock farmers to enhance livestock production in the province.

He told the Daily Nation in an interview that Government had embarked on improving the livestock sector in the Province because it had the capacity to reduce poverty at household level and promote sustainable development in Zambia.

Last year, Government invested K126 million in improving infrastructure in the livestock sector in five districts of Nakonde, Mafinga, Mpika, Isoka and Chinsali in Muchinga Province

The Minister pointed out that lack of staff, infrastructure and transport, among others in the livestock sector in the province had greatly hampered on the growth of the sector.

He said some districts such as Mafinga, had inadequate office space and shortage of staff.

“The livestock sector in the province is still facing a number of challenges, there is no infrastructure, lack of vaccines and laboratories in some districts. Also, movement for our few staff is a challenge, because they do not have vehicles,” he said.

Mr Katambo however, assured that those challenges would soon be a thing of the past.

He said Government was building bleeding, milk collection animal  market centres, livestock training institutes, dip tanks and laboratories among others.