By CHATULA KANGALI –
GOVERNMENT has slashed the price of cattle being offloaded at breeding centres by 75 percent in a bid to boost livestock farming in the country.
Livestock Minister Greyford Monde said in an interview that the reduction on exotic breeds was to make them affordable and promote livestock farming among small-scale farmers.
He said over 1,000 animals were currently being offloaded from four centres namely Mbesuma Ranch in Northern, Mukwaikwai in Eastern, Kanchindu in Lusaka and Kanyama in North-Western provinces.
“We have subsided and cut the price of cattle from our breeding centres by 75 per cent in order to make them affordable, when selling, priority will be given to small scale farmers, women and cooperative groups. For example, a cattle breed which cost K20,000 on market will be sold at K2,500,” he said.
Mr Monde said the animals being offloaded included all exotic breeds like the boer, boron among the others.
He said the offloading of the animals would enable small-scale farmers cross-breed them with local cattle in order to produce a better breed for both beef and milk production.
The minister added that prices would vary depending on the type and size of the animal.
He noted that most small-scale livestock farmers in the country were unable to grow due to lack proper breeding animals.
Mr Monde reiterated Government’s commitment to developing the livestock farming saying the sector had the potential to grow the economy and create jobs for the locals.