By SYLVESTER MWALE –
HEIFER International Zambia (HIZ) has spent more than K260,000 to train 40 farmers as Community Agro Veterinary Entrepreneurs (CAVEs) at the Zambia Institute of Animal Health (ZIAH) in Mazabuka, in Southern Province.
The training was aimed at improving livestock production in order to enhance household economies in Central and Copperbelt provinces.
Each of the 40 farmers from the two provinces received a bicycle, veterinary kit, a pair of gumboots and protective clothing at the end of the course.
Mazabuka District Commissioner Jenny Chirwa, in a speech read for her by the district accountant Ludwig Janza, said there was need for the nation to create a vibrant livestock sector instead of concentrating on crop production alone.
Ms Chirwa noted that that the key to achieving the goal of creating a vibrant livestock sector was the prevention, control and containment of animal diseases.
She commended Heifer International for sponsoring the farmers as that would help in enhancing income by the households.
HIZ training manager Djondo Sikalangwe said the organisation was pleased to see its farmers graduate as CAVEs as that would help in improving both livestock production as well as their livelihoods.
Mr Sikalangwe observed that there were no markets specifically for poor people, hence the farmers should take farming seriously as an enterprise in order to meet the law of demand and supply.