tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT plans to rehabilitate 500 dip-tanks this year as part of the ongoing fight against animal diseases.
The rehabilitation of dip-tanks is crucial for the country’s livestock industry.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Online, the Department of Veterinary Services chief director Dr Pious Makaya said labour for the programme will be drawn from communities where the dip-tanks are located.
“Government will provide the rehabilitation materials, while farmers will provide the labour.
“This model works best since it promotes ownership and responsibility on the part of farmers,” said Dr Makaya.
Since the commencement of the Accelerated Dip-Tank Rehabilitation Programme in 2021, he said, Government had successfully rehabilitated over 1 270 dip-tanks across the country.
Overall, the programme targets to rehabilitate 2 000 dip-tanks by 2025 as a part of the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan.
The plan aims to ensure the growth of the national herd by preventing tick-borne diseases, which account for 60 percent of cattle deaths annually.
Bongani Ndlovu