By  FREDRICK MWANAMUCHENDE and CREAVAT CHITUTA?-
GOVERNMENT is committed to eradicating the Contagious Bovine Pleuropnemonia (CBPP) a cattle disease affecting lungs and has collected more than 60 per cent of blood samples in four districts of North-western Province.
North-Western Province veterinary officer Peter Banda told the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) in Kabompo District that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock had embarked on a CBPP control exercise in Zambezi, Kabompo, Chavuma and Manyinga districts?and had so far collected 60 per cent of blood samples to assess the prevalence levels of the disease in the province.
‘‘The objective of CBPP control exercise through blood sampling is to know the prevalence levels of the disease in endemic areas of the province’’ he said.
Dr Banda further urged farmers in the province to cooperate with the veterinary officers in their various communities during the sero-surveillance exercise.
Cattle farmers in the province have hailed Government for the efforts made in controlling the CBPP disease in their respective areas through the Smallholder Livestock Investment Project (SLIP).
Phelim Kahilu, a farmer from Chilongo Village in Zambezi West Bank commended the Government for the continued control of the disease through vaccinations of their animals.
Mr Kahilu, who had in the past lost more than 100 animals due to the outbreak of CBPP, appealed to Government to ensure that the disease was completely eradicated and also to consider restocking cattle in the affected areas.
A farmer from Chavuma District has also appealed to the Government to lift the ban on livestock movement to enable farmers have access to markets.
Patrick Kayombo said the Government should consider lifting the ban on?livestock movement once the disease was completely eradicated.
Meanwhile, Kabompo District veterinary officer Gershom Chungu, expressed satisfaction with the progress his officers had so far made in the blood sampling exercise.?Dr Chungu applauded Government and the Smallholder Livestock Investment Project (SLIP) for their tireless efforts in the control of CBPP in the province.
He said the exercise had resulted into a significant reduction in the number of  CBPP cases saying the department had now moved from conducting vaccinations to sero- surveillance through blood sampling to determine pockets of CBPP prevalence.?The Veterinary Department in the province is undertaking animal blood?sampling exercise  Chavuma, Zambezi, Manyinga and Kabompo districts to?assess the prevalence of CBPP in the province. — NAIS