Zambia’s livestock sector gets AfDB boost
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU ZAMBIA’S climate resilient livestock management project with an estimated value of US$6,210,000 is in the pipeline following support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) pending approval.
This project is under AfDB’S ongoing Livestock Infrastructure Support Project (LISP) in the region and is aimed at enhancing food security with overall increase in the supply of good livestock products.
The Bank portfolio in Zambia comprises 23 ongoing and approved operations of which two are multinational projects with a value of US$1.0 billion.
The climate resilient livestock management project which would be implemented countrywide was expected to be presented to the AfDB board on 13 September 2017 for approval.
This is according to latest information from the AfDB on some of the projects under pipeline in Africa.
Some of the projects which would come with the climate resilient livestock management project include building of facilities such as dip tanks, spray races, crush pens for vaccination and other veterinary services, feeding and watering infrastructure which will enable farmers to raise healthy animals.
Other benefits include construction of breeding centres which would act as aid in the stocking programme resulting in increase in livestock numbers.
In terms of objectives, the project would ensure livestock farmers to cope with climate change through adoption of improved practices that enhance livelihoods.
Farmers would also be able to deal with resilience of natural resources to climate change enhanced.