By Ogwang Andrew Kizito, Communication Officer ADLG .
The Chairperson of Amolatar District, Morish Ogwal Omara, has launched a livestock vaccination campaign targeting more than 60,000 cattle and 120,000 goats and sheep.
The exercise follows the delivery of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccines for cattle and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccines for goats and sheep by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Speaking during the launch held in Agwiri Sub-county, Ogwal Omara thanked the ministry for responding to the district’s request for vaccines.
He noted that the vaccination campaign would help control the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease and Peste des Petits Ruminants, which have affected livestock production in the district.
He encouraged farmers in the district to treat farming as a business and prioritize the health of their animals to improve productivity and household incomes.
Ogwal Omara also urged farmers not to rely solely on livestock production but to venture into other income-generating activities such as crop farming and poultry keeping in order to diversify their sources of income.
He pledged continued support for government programmes aimed at improving household incomes and building economic resilience among communities.
The District Chief Administrative Officer, Rodha Oroma, encouraged farmers to take advantage of the free vaccination programme.
She said the government is investing substantial resources in the fight against household poverty through the promotion of commercial agriculture and urged farmers to embrace poverty alleviation programmes to improve their livelihoods.
The District Veterinary Officer, Dr. Olum Peter, said the ministry had delivered an initial batch of 25,000 doses of the Lumpy Skin Disease vaccine, adding that more doses are expected to ensure all the district’s cattle are covered.
Dr. Olum further urged farmers to vaccinate their animals, warning that after the exercise, authorities will restrict the sale and transportation of unvaccinated animals outside the district.
Farmers who brought their animals for vaccination welcomed the government’s support in providing free vaccines against Lumpy Skin Disease.
However, they appealed to the government to subsidize the cost of vaccines for other livestock diseases, particularly Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), whose vaccination currently costs Shs 8,000 per cow and Shs 4,000 per goat or sheep.
Amolatar District Launches Vaccination of 60,000 Cattle and 120,000 Goats and Sheep.
