The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT has dispatched a consignment of vaccines to an area that has been hit by January Disease in the Midlands Province.
Speaking on the sidelines of an prize-giving ceremony in Harare recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera confirmed the development.
“We have released a variety of vaccines to the affected areas as part of our efforts to contain the disease.
“We have dispatched a delegation from the veterinary services to assess, monitor and provide awareness on the importance of religiously dipping cattle,” he said.
Dr Basera said over half a million cattle have been killed over the past few years as a result of the tick-borne disease, prompting Government to introduce various measures such as the tick-grease programme.
Livestock deaths recently declined by 37 percent.
Government has since invoked the Animal Health Act, whereby all farmers who fail to dip their cattle in line with the new 5:4:4 regime policy face arrest.
