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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter

THE Government has procured over one million kilogrammes of tick grease that will be distributed to one million households under the Presidential blitz tick grease scheme, with the aim to reduce tick borne related diseases.

The fight against tick borne diseases has been escalated and the Government has begun implementing the national tick borne disease control strategy with the aim of addressing the scourge of tick borne diseases, including spearheading the tick grease programme. The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has also recorded a significant decline in tick-borne related diseases following the launch of the Presidential blitz tick grease input scheme.

Statistics from the department showed that livestock diseases have gone down by 50 percent during the January to April period this year compared to a year earlier.

About 4 241 tick-borne disease deaths were recorded from January to April this year, compared to 8 328 and 10 774 deaths over the same period in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Speaking during the Zimbabwe Farmers Union 82nd Annual Congress in Gweru recently, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said there was a great improvement in the livestock sector, attributing the decline of cattle deaths to the Presidential tick grease programme. “In the livestock sector, through the Presidential Blitz Tick Grease Scheme, we have reduced disease-induced cattle deaths by 50 percent paving the way for national head rebuilding.

“The programme is still continuing and several farmers are going to benefit from the programme,” he said.

In the same ministry, director of Veterinary Field Services Dr Jairus Machakwa said the programme will continue this season, adding that it will supplement and complement the dipping programme.

Blitz tick-grease programme under Presidential input scheme, has been running for the past two seasons and has been a game-changer in the fight against January disease (JD).

“The Programme will continue this season,” Dr Machakwa. “Under the programme, a minimum of one million kilogrammes of tick grease will be distributed, free of charge to the farmers, wherein each household keeping livestock will receive one kilogramme of tick grease to supplement and complement the dipping programme.”

Government has also manufactured the tick-borne disease vaccine under a pilot project which is expected to save and boost livestock production in the country.

The move will help to contain tick-borne diseases that have depleted the national herd.

Dr Machakwa said dip tank construction and rehabilitation and intensive dipping were crucial in curbing tick borne diseases.

Over the past two agricultural seasons, the combination of the dipping programme and the blitz tick grease programme produced great results, with a 47 percent reduction in tick borne related cattle deaths recorded 2021 when compared to 2020.

The livestock growth plan is part of the agriculture food systems transformation strategy which seeks to achieve an US$8,2 billion agriculture economy by 2025 to ensure the attainment of Vision 2030.

During the wet season, animals are susceptible to many challenges, and if a farmer is not careful, they may be killed by various diseases, including tick-borne diseases.

January Disease is common between December and March and is spread through the bite of the brown ear tick.

Statistics from the department also revealed that over 500 000 cattle have succumbed to tick borne diseases from 2016 to date, leading to the decline of the national herd which stands at five million.