GOVT PRODDED OVER LIVESTOCK BREEDING CENTRES

By MAILESI BANDA GOVERNMENT should embrace the Public Private Partnership model in order to increase the number of livestock breeding centres across the country, Zambeef head of retailing, marketing and corporate affairs, Felix Lupindula has advised.

Mr. Lupindula said increasing the number of breeding centers in the country will enhance access to services like artificial insemination which will in turn lead to farmers having access to more productive breeds.

Speaking when he presented a report to the parliamentary committee on agriculture, lands and natural resources in Lusaka last week, Mr Lupindula said the PPP model is a workable solution to the development of the livestock sector.

He explained that the decentralization of livestock breeding centres will help in the setting up of livestock production centres in non-traditional areas.

“There is need for the Government to increase the number of breeding centres across the country and run them as PPP in order to enhance access to services like artificial insemination, improved livestock breeds and best practices in cattle management information and training,” he said.

He further called for an increased allocation of funding from the national budget towards em- ploying extension officers in order for them to reach out to a higher proportions of livestock farmers across the country.

He said the livestock sector needs more funding to effectively contribute to economic growth adding that the sector needs special consideration by the government and that top on the list should be adequate funding like the crop sector as the two sectors augment each other.

Mr. Lupindula said introducing subsidies for vaccines for the national vaccination of black leg anthrax and lumpy skin disease would give the sector a major boost.