Group urges government to prioritize animal production over animal health

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has urged government to consider operationalizing a Department of Animal Production Directorate and enacting a law that will regulate it.

MDC Chairperson for Agriculture, Godfrey Bbalo, says that the country is investing a lot of money in animal health as compared to animal production, hence the need for the directorate that would scale up animal production in the country.

Addressing a media briefing on Saturday in Lusaka, Bbalo said the country’s livestock population is very low at about three million cattle and 14 million chickens, among others, which as a result hinders progress in research.

He said because of the low livestock population, Zambia is restricted from venturing into livestock vaccine production as it is not economically viable.

“The country is investing more money in animal health and not investing in animal production. As at now, the department of animal production has no directorate and no law to regulate it. Government should consider this so that we build upon a sizeable population of quality and resistant animals” Bbalo said.

He said Zambia had placed animal health as top priority against animal production which equally requires a lot of investment to grow the population size.

“Zambia should concentrate and put value in scaling up animal production thereafter, would it start considering local production of animal vaccines which would make economic sense with increased livestock,” Bbalo said.

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