Story by Providence Maraneli
LIVESTOCK farmers in Gwanda South are set to benefit from an animal health management centre which has been established by the government and its development partners at Manama Business Centre.
The Animal Health Centre was launched this Wednesday.
This comes at a time when villagers were travelling as far as Bulawayo to purchase chemicals for their animals.
Development partners, who attended the official handover and launch of the animal health centre vowed to assist the government in the fight against livestock diseases.
“The livestock value chain was probably the most important once upon a time but it collapsed due to diseases and I think making this value chain work again is the objective that unites us today,” said a UN representative.
“Today is a very important day to the livestock value chain in Zimbabwe in particular farmers because this will go a long way in improving productivity,” said a FAO representative.
The government is on a massive drive to grow the livestock sector.
“This province used to be a leading cattle producer in Zimbabwe and unfortunately we have been overtaken because of the prevalence of diseases and climate change. We celebrate the launch of this facility with the hope that it will gain its position,” said the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu.
“Livestock production plays an important role in the social and economic environment of the country. The country has more than five million cattle and over four million ruminants and this translates to US$2 billion this means that the sector is a Vision 2030 accelerator,” said the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Davis Marapira.
The animal health management centre will offer diagnostic services to farmers and house animal drugs and agro-chemicals.
