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Agriculture Reporter

THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has challenged stakeholders in the livestock sector to complement Government efforts in growing the sector through paying the Livestock Development Levy (LDL) whose purpose seems to be eluding many farmers thereby compromising their willingness to pay it.

In 2017, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development promulgated the Agricultural Marketing Authority (Livestock Development Levy) Regulations, 2017 under Statutory Instrument 129 of 2017 with the aim of establishing a LDL, provide for its uses and its disbursement thereof. The levy is part of the Agricultural Marketing Fund, which is set up under the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act.

AMA’s call comes in the wake of growing misconceptions on the purpose of the levy that serves as an important enabler in the livestock sector among the general populace.

“There has been reluctance by stakeholders to contribute to this levy. The advantages of doing so are many,” AMA Chief Executive Mr Clever Isaya said in an interview yesterday.

The levy is payable by those in the business of producing chicks, buying of raw milk and slaughtering beef cattle.

Mr Isaya said the purpose of the levy was to promote surveillance, prevention and control of animal diseases in accordance with the Animal Health Act (Chapter 9:0l), research on appropriate technologies in livestock production and animal health, transparent grading and classification of livestock and livestock products, orderly marketing of livestock, investment in veterinary infrastructure and sustainable animal husbandry practices.

It is that time of the year once again that the country is faced with the challenge of the tick-borne diseases among them Theileriosis (popularly known as January disease), foot and mouth and red water, among others, which have the potential of reversing Government’s thrust to re-build the national head.

“It is critical that all resources are harnessed towards the rehabilitation and consistent dipping of cattle which are proven methods of containing menacing diseases. The Presidential Tick Grease programme has been very successful, and millions of farmers across the country have benefited from the same.

The levy must effectively contribute to this cause. The levy remains an enabler in the livestock sector,” he added.

The rates payable by producers of day-old chicks is US$0,01 per day old chick. Buyers of raw milk pay US$0,01 per litre and abattoirs pay US$10 of the value of a fifth quarter per animal slaughtered.

“We call upon all stakeholders to move together in this important drive to safeguard the national herd. Government must not work alone in this important journey,” he added.

AMA together with development partners is leading the rehabilitation of cattle holding pens across the country in a bid to revive public livestock auction sales.

The month of January is usually the peak period for Theileriosis (hence the name January disease). More than 65 percent of cattle deaths in Zimbabwe are caused by tick-borne diseases and since 2016, close to a million cattle have succumbed to the disease.