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Precious Manomano, Herald Reporter
More than one million households will benefit from this year’s Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Scheme free of charge.
This comes as the Government is strengthening measures to save livestock and combat the spread of January disease and other tick-borne diseases.
The scheme was launched on November 20, 2020, under the Livestock Growth Plan as a back up to increased cattle dipping with more dip tanks renovated.
For four years now farmers have been benefiting from the grease scheme and the programme is set to continue until the January disease is under control.
To effectively control ticks and tick-borne diseases the Department of Veterinary Services has adopted the integrated tick and tick-borne disease control strategy.
The cornerstone of the strategy is strategic dipping, where dipping activities are being complemented by acaricide resistance monitoring and weekly dipping in the summer season.
Vet Department chief director Dr Pious Makaya said under this strategic dipping approach, dipping chemicals are continually evaluated to ensure effective cattle dipping.
“In this regard, the department has stocked adequate dipping chemicals for the entire country to ensure weekly dipping during the summer season.
“The department has also adequate stocks of tick grease, for distribution to cattle farmers under the Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Programme, to complement cattle dipping targeting one million households in the upcoming summer season,” he said.
The department would also be carrying out an accelerated dip tank rehabilitation before the rainy season, to continue revamping the country’s dipping infrastructure.
This year the total of rehabilitated dip tanks reaches 5 000 after another 396 were completed.
The Vet Department has plans to scale up production of three vaccines for tick-borne January disease, gall sickness and redwater to increase vaccination coverage.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said there was a great improvement in the livestock sector because of the blitz.
“The programme is continuing and the majority of farmers will benefit.
“The programme will supplement and complement the dipping programme. It has proved to be a game changer in the fight against January disease,” he said.
Half a million cattle have succumbed to tick-borne diseases from 2016 but the Government has implemented several measures to ensure that the national herd grows to a target of six million cattle this year.
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