Model dip-tank launched in Buhera
JOINT efforts by stakeholders in the livestock sector continues to bear fruit in Buhera — where apart from investing in the improvement of animal genetics — the partners have expanded their scope to rehabilitate dilapidated dip tanks.
This is meant to improve animal healthcare and strengthen livelihoods of communal households.
The new thrust has resulted in the launch of a model dipping facility in Buhera funded to the tune of US$5 000 by Coppers, a private company that manufactures and distributes animal health products in Zimbabwe.
The Makuvise Dip Tank in Ward 32 of Buhera Central was rehabilitated by Coopers in partnership with the Department of Veterinary Services and the community.
The community contributed all the locally available material like bricks, stones, pit sand, river sand and labour, while Coopers provided the balance of the material such as cement, treated timber and roofing sheets valued at US$5 000
Commissioning the new-look facility, the Department of Veterinary Services’ chief director, Dr Josphat Nyika, hailed the intervention by Coopers and other stakeholders to complement Government’s efforts to strengthen the livestock sector.
Dr Nyika said out of the almost 4 000 communal dip tanks in Zimbabwe, about 2 675 require rehabilitation to function properly.
He said tick-borne diseases are endemic in areas where the community is struggling to revive dip tanks.
Dr Nyika challenged other players in the sector to emulate Coppers in improving animal healthcare and strengthening livelihoods of the rural households practising animal husbandry through organised
regular dipping.
Coopers projects executive, Professor Joseph Kamuzhanje, said the programme is part of an initiative by his organisation to work with communities to rehabilitate dip tanks.
He said the move will help fight tickborne diseases, especially Theileriosis, which is also known as January disease.
“Our thrust is to work with these communities to rehabilitate dip tanks to encourage farmers to dip their cattle and fight tick-borne diseases, especially Theileriosis. This disease has killed over 500 000 cattle since 2017, according to the recently launched Livestock Growth Plan. The rehabilitation of dip tanks also contributes to efforts to improve animal health interventions in the district,” said Prof Kamuzhanje.
The Livestock Growth Plan has identified
the following challenges: (i) animal health, sanitary and food safety issues; (ii) availability of adequate nutrition (feed, pastures, fodder and water); (iii) genetic improvement issues; (iv) access to infrastructure suitable for accessing lucrative domestic, regional and international markets; and (v) inadequate financial resources.
Already, Coopers, Makera Cattle Company and GOAL Zimbabwe, an international NGO, have distributed 51 pedigree bulls in Buhera and Chipinge to improve the genetics in the two districts.
This is the second time that these organisations have partnered in genetic improvement.
In 2014, the partners introduced 39 bulls in 12 wards of Buhera and it is estimated that over 3 000 improved calves were born and some of them are already ready for the market.