Malawi Lifts Cattle Slaughter Ban in Lower Shire
MALAWI - Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has lifted the temporary ban on livestock slaughter and movement of livestock from Lower Shire districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje.
18 October 2017
1 minute read
Nyasa Times reports that the ministry a couple of months ago issued restrictions on the insurance of livestock permits and suspended all livestock movements and markets due to what it called foot and mouth disease.
Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease that mostly affects cattle and has very devastating socio-economic consequences if not timely controlled.
A statement from the ministry said it has been monitoring the situation and that currently the situation has normalizes to allow livestock movements and slaughters.
The ban reduced meat supply in Malawi by almost 20 per cent and also threatened employment for hundreds working in smaller butcheries and meat outlets in the cities as well as cattle ranches.
Director in the Department of Livestock and Animal Health in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Dr Patrick Chikungwa they are still monitoring the situation despite lifting the ban.
Foot and Mouth disease is common in the lower Shire valley, especially during the hot season.
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