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Herald Reporter
A shortage of dipping chemicals is affecting control of livestock diseases triggered by heavy rains that fell across the country recently, a Government official has said. The deputy director for veterinary services in the Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Ministry, Dr Chenjerai Njagu, told The Herald yesterday that controlling diseases had become very difficult because of the shortage in chemicals. “Our major constraint has been the shortage of dipping chemicals,” he said. “Tick-borne diseases have increased and we are encouraging farmers with resources to spray their animals against ticks to avoid further livestock losses.”
An outbreak in livestock diseases such as anthrax, lumpy skin and black leg was reported in February when the country experienced incessant rains. Several farmers lost their livestock.
Lumpy skin disease outbreaks were reported in Murehwa, Marondera and surrounding areas; while anthrax broke out in Dande, Muzarabani and Mazowe. Veterinary officials say 375 cattle have died from tick-borne diseases countrywide in the current rainy season.
Online Reporter