Logistic problems harm extension services - Musika
By MAILESI BANDA GOVERNMENT should carry out extension mapping to determine the level of extension services inadequacies in Zambia, Musika managing director Reuben Banda has advised.
Mr. Banda said with proper mapping it would be easy for the private sector to support extension services in Zambia.
He said that while the government had tried to place veterinary and livestock assistants in various camps, there was still serious lack of these services due to logistical problems.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Banda said in most cases the veterinary as- sistants were not adequately trained to handle certain cases that arose.
He said that was mainly due to lack of hands-on-skills soon after graduation, adding that there was need to promote internship among would-be extension workers to meet minimum skills needed in the field.
“We learnt from our recent tours that most camps managed by these extension workers are too vast to manage by a single person with limited or no resources at all.
“There are many areas in Zambia where livestock farmers have never been visited by extension veterinary workers, and this remains a challenge to both the private and public sector to work out, “In short extension services in Zambia are inadequate and a lot of work has to be done by the private sector,” he said.
Mr Banda further said there was lack of clear-cut policy framework governing the livestock sector in Zambia.