Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Drought takes its toll on Zambia’s agri output
Zambia’s dairy and livestock industries are under threat in the droughtravaged country, with persistent dry spells predicted to drastically affect milk production and pasture for cattle and other animals.
Livestock and Fisheries Minister Makozo Chikote said Zambia had hoped to double its cattle production to benefit from beef and leather for exports. The milk output, expected to grow at an average of 10% annually, is threatened because pasture for cattle has been depleted by dry spells and low rainfall recorded since October last year caused by El Niño.
Last year, Zambia’s milk production grew by 20% to 514 308t. The production is a huge increase from 47 100t recorded in 1973, indicating an average annual growth rate of 9,68%, which may be overshadowed by the effect of the current drought. A well-fed dairy cow ȱȱȱȱ ȱŗŞȟȱ ȱŘŖȟȱȱȱ¢ǰȱȱȱȱ is likely to reverse the projected growth of the sector, according to the Dairy Association of Zambia.
“We expect drastic losses in milk production this year because the drought has affected most parts of the country. Our farmers cannot grow maize this rainy season and the grass is not enough to even prepare hay, and this has contributed to low milk production,” the association told the Daily Mail.
“Water is a challenge because the dams have dried up and this is definitely going to affect milk production because animals need a lot of water for digestion.”
The veterinary sector fears for livestock and forecasts the re-emerging of anthrax and other diseases that had claimed many animals and also five human lives after zoonotic diseases affected most parts of Zambia.
The chairperson of the Veterinary Association of Zambia, Malcom Miyoba, urged the government to scale up disease prevention and surveillance as well as veterinary support in the country to save animals from diseases including anthrax, food-and-mouth disease and East Coast fever, which threatened the country as El Niño weather patterns continued.
However, Zambia’s co-operating partners, including Britain and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have extended support to assist the country fight possible shortcomings in countering animal diseases and zoonotic challenges.
The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Nicholas Woolley, pledged sustained assistance from his government as it would help build resilient systems and protect animals and humans from disease.
FAO country representative Susan Filippini pledged her organisation’s commitment to help Zambia overcome the pending diseases driven by the drought situation and urged the country to sustain the ‘One Health Approach’ to save animals from infections. –
‘WE EXPECT DRASTIC LOSSES IN MILK PRODUCTION THIS YEAR’