Govt sets aside K600 m for procurement of livestock disease vaccines in east

Government has set aside K600 million for the purchase of vaccines for livestock diseases in Eastern province.

Provincial Veterinary Officer, Joseph Sitali, revealed to ZANIS that the department
would soon embark on a vaccination drive against East Coast Fever and
Tryponosomiasis diseases in the province.

Dr. Sitali said the vaccination exercise would be conducted under the Poverty
Reduction Strategy Progrmmes, PRSP.

He stated about 65 000 animals are targeted for vaccination under the project.

“About 40 000 animals will be vaccinated against east coast fever while 25 000 will
be vaccinated against triponosomiasis,” he said.

He said the exercise would commence next month as soon as vaccines are procured.

Dr. Sitali has since advised farmers in the province to rehabilitate their crash
panes in preparation for the vaccination of their animals.

He expressed concern that most of the crash panes in the province were not in good
condition.

Dr. Sitali also revealed that the livestock production has increased despite the
prevalence of livestock disease in the province.

“Cattle has increased by 30 percent from 230 000 to 300 0000 and other animals have
also increased he said,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sitali said government has managed to control Lumpy skin disease that
broke out in the province recently.

He said the disease, that earlier this year affected Four cattle in every herd, has
now been contained and no cases have been recorded in the past few months.

Dr. Sitali said farmers were able to get vaccines from local drug stores that
managed to procure the drugs which were not available when the disease broke out in
February this year.

He also revealed that Two cases of black leg disease were reported in Katete district.

“The disease is caused by bacteria that is found in the soil and is prevalent when
ground is dry as cattle graze very closely to the ground,” he said.

Dr. Sitali, however, stated that the disease was new in the province and advised
farmers to procure vaccines as it was prevalent in Lundazi and Katete districts of
the province.