DVS seeks partners in animal health

LETTICIA MAGOMBO

The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Ministry of Lands Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development is courting private sector partners to improve animal health delivery services, Business Times can report.

The programme would be done through the Anchor Animal Health Management Centers (AAHMCs).

The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the European Union funded Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme Transforming Zimbabwe’s Animal Health and Food Safety Systems for the Future (ZAGP-SAFE) Project being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

In its call for expression of interest, the DSV said: “Interested private sector entities or individuals are invited to submit proposals for innovative ideas on how they would like to partner in the supply of veterinary drugs and other services to local faming communities under public-private partnership initiative.”

Paul Zakariya, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Farmers Union, said the participation of the private sector is crucial in moving such initiatives forward as the “privates sector includes all small and large scale farmers and these tend to be major financial contributors”.

Zakariya said, the initiative was much needed in the farming sector as there have been many challenges encountered by livestock farmers in terms of disease mitigation and control.

The livestock farming community, primarily cattle farmers in the rainy season have been affected by tick borne diseases that have resulted in the death of thousands of cattle.

Diseases such as theileriosis also known as January disease which has accounted for 60% of cattle deaths and, heartwater disease, anthrax and anaplasmosis have been major cause of concern.

“The initiative is long overdue considering that more farmers have found value in preserving their livestock in order to channel it in to to the business sector. Animals are no longer looked at as assets but rather as a business opportunity,” Zakariya said.

DSV,  with support from the ZAGP-SAFE, is capacitating 26 AAHMCs through infrastructural upgrade which includes 5KVA solar systems, security fencing, installation of anti-burglar screens, refrigerators and Wi-Fi connection.

DSV said the overall objective of the programme was to “ensure livestock farmers get the key animal health and production inputs from their locality and reduce the reaction time thereby preventing mortalities and enhance production and productivity”.

Individuals and companies that want to partner the DSV have to submit expression of interest up to April 10. The tender opened on March 27.