Online Reporter
Judith Phiri [email protected]
THE Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is monitoring outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, January disease and lumpy skin disease that are affecting farmers in some districts of Matabeleland North province.
In an interview, Matabeleland North acting provincial director for Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS), Mr Mkhunjulelwa Ndlovu said for foot and mouth disease, cases had been recorded especially in Nyamandlovu area of Umguza District.
“The Department of Veterinary Services has engaged with the farmers, as I speak, they are down there. They are trying to make sure we contain the disease and control it. Farmers are willing to assist in terms of complying and controlling the disease,” he said.
“Yes, we have an outbreak but we hope we will manage to control it. The farmers and the Department of Veterinary Services are mobilising resources in terms of vaccine to quickly come in and do the first round of the vaccination and then later, the second phase.”
On the January disease also known as Theileriosis, he said though the disease was causing havoc, they were above the situation now.
Mr Ndlovu said livestock have been vaccinated in Bubi District and they were now also vaccinating in Umguza District’s Ntabaziduna area.
“The Department of Veterinary Services working together with the farmers are trying to control the disease outbreak. In terms of dipping, they are now enforcing and farmers are complying and they will be to control the tick infestation,” he added.
He said a bit of lump skin disease cases have been reported in Umguza District’s Redbank area, but farmers have vaccinated their animals under the guidance of the Department of Veterinary Services to ensure good health of the livestock.
Meanwhile, recently 54 out of 2 403 cattle in Mangwe District, Matabeleland South, were confirmed with foot and mouth disease by the Department of Veterinary Services, raising concern among livestock farmers and authorities in the province.
Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
While the disease is often mild in small livestock, it can be devastating in cattle, causing severe production losses and in some cases, death.
In Southern Africa, wild buffaloes act as the main reservoir of the virus, enabling transmission to domestic animals, especially in areas located near wildlife habitats.
