By CHATULA KANGALI –
GOVERNMENT has partnered with the World Bank to offer grants to fish farmers to boost fish production in the country.

. Monde

Livestock and Fisheries Minister Greyford Monde said the project was in the pipeline and that his ministry had since invited applications from all farmers across the country wishing to invest in fish farming.
“Fish farmers across  the  country have in the past been complaining of lack of capital and resources to boost the production of fish.
“Government has partnered with the World Bank to offer livestock matching grants to interested fish farmers across the country that wish to  expand  the  production of  fish. We are currently inviting interested farmers and only shortlisted ones will benefit from the project,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Monde said his office is working on containing the outbreak of black leg cattle and the foot and mouth diseases, which have killed at least 120 animals in Western and North-western Provinces.
At least 109 heads of cattle have died of black leg disease in Sinyanganya area in Sikongo District in Western Province while, 13 have died from foot and mouth disease in Shangombo and Sioma districts.
Mr Monde  said vaccines  for  both diseases were  already  in stock and that,  officers from the  livestock department were  expected  to be in the areas  soon.
“We are aware of the disease outbreak in Western and North-western Provinces. We already have the vaccine stocks in place. Officers will soon visit the areas to collect animal statistics and give vaccines to prevent further outbreaks,” he said.