Int'l agricultural body loans Zambia to fight livestock diseases

The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) has given Zambia 12 million U.S. dollars to enhance the development of smallholder livestock farmers, a senior government official has said.

Acting Chief Government Spokesperson Vincent Mwale said in a statement obtained by Xinhua on Wednesday that the government has since approved the contraction of the loan under an Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Program.

The loan, he said, will be used for the full implementation of the Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Program aimed at improve animal disease control and livestock production systems in areas prone to livestock diseases.

Livestock development in Zambia has been affected by frequent outbreaks of diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), and East Coast Fever.

The government, he said, has also approved guidelines for sale of livestock for breeding purposes to smallholder farmers.

The provision of guidelines for sale of livestock raised at various government facilities under the Ministry of Agriculture will enable the government supply affordable superior breeding stock to smallholder farmers, which will ultimately lead to increased livestock production and productivity. Endi