Government and the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) have embarked on a US$46.3 Million
livestock project in the country.
The project known as Enhanced Smallholder Livestock
Project (E-SLIP) will run for a period of seven years.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda disclosed
this when he launched the project in Chongwe yesterday.
He said IFAD will finance the programme through a highly
concessional loan ofUS$14.8 and a grant of US$0.87million.
Mr Lubinda said the interest free loan will just have a
service charge of zero point seven five percent per annum.
He further said the programme will scale up livestock
interventions among smallholder farmers and also
strengthen government's capacity to combat as well as
reduce animal disease control.
Mr. Lubinda said the most prevalent incidences of animal
disease was East Coast fever and Contagious Bovine Pleural-
Pneumonia, which have been the major causes of cattle
mortality among smallholder livestock farmers.
He said E-SLIP will significantly contribute to the
development goal of sustainably improved incomes of rural
poor households through the production and productivity of
key livestock systems.
Meanwhile,IFAD Country Director Abla Benhamouche says
the objective of the project is to reduce the incidence of East
Coast Fever (ECF) and eradication of Contagious Bovine
Pleural-Pneumonia (CBPP).
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