adminGovernment’s move to officially launch a countrywide campaign against January Disease ((Theileriosis) which kills thousands of cattle is no doubt a step in the right direction.
This campaign was long overdue and will go a long way in protecting the national herd should communal farmers stick to its objectives.
With the cooperation of farmers and various stakeholders countrywide, this cattle disease can be easily contained.
The programme was officially launched at Venice Dip Tank in Kadoma last week by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr John Basera.
Genuine cooperation will be needed between all stakeholders to make the programme a success, otherwise it will turn out to be just another good programme affected by lack of implementation.
It would count for nothing if farmers cooperated by authorities fail to deliver dipping chemicals, or the other way round.
Farmers are the key stakeholders in this programme and they must be to enlightened on the importance of dipping their cattle.
The ministry’s Agricultural Extension Officers also must be capacitated to enable them to reach out to all farmers.
Dr Basera revealed that more than 65 percent of cattle deaths were attributed to tick-borne diseases, including the January Disease, and mooted this idea, which should not be left to collapse.
While Basera warned that farmers that refuse to dip their cattle would be reported to traditional leaders, this programme must not be used to settle personal scores, but solely for the protection of cattle.
Therefore, traditional leaders must take the lead by ensuring that their people religiously take their cattle for dipping weekly.
His warning that the Ministry would intervene if traditional heads fail to convince their people to dip their cattle is an indication that Government is serious about fighting this disease which has been a threat to the national herd over the years.
It’s a clear indication that the campaign is an important programme aimed at rebuilding the national herd.
Perhaps the ministry should also partner with the corporate world to ensure the sustainability of this programme.
The corporate world can come on board by helping procure and avail dipping chemicals in cases where farmers are financially hamstrung.
Most communal farmers are struggling to make ends meet, and most are likely to fail to raise money to contribute to the buying of dipping chemicals weekly.
This is where a public private partnership is needed to ensure a constant supply of chemicals so that no farmer has an excuse for not complying with the ctlle dipping policy.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter