Effects of inconsistent dipping on tick-borne disease prevalence: a case of Chiredzi district, Masvingo province
- Author
- Shimbani, Peter
- Title
- Effects of inconsistent dipping on tick-borne disease prevalence: a case of Chiredzi district, Masvingo province
- Abstract
-
Zimbabwe’s economy is agro based with more than 65% of the population deriving their livelihoods from agriculture and 40% of these doing so from livestock production. Livestock rearing is an integral part of most of the farming systems practiced in Zimbabwe, particularly in the smallholder communal sector where livestock provides more than 80% of tillage in addition to being cheap source of natural enrichment of the soil through manure for crop production. Currently, livestock farming in the smallholder farming sector is hampered by a lot of challenges because of tick-borne infestations. Improved livestock disease management is key in addressing these drawbacks. Consistent livestock dipping, being one of the major disease management strategies should be prioritised to control ticks which are the vectors of tick-borne diseases. The current study investigated on the causes and effects of inconsistent dipping in the communal farming sector. The causes include unavailability of funds to pay dipping levies, distance to dip tanks among other factors. The researcher also highlighted on how these causes can be addressed for example by adopting the 2020 dipping model which was spearheaded by the government and responsible government departments and other implementing partners. Adoption of this model will ease on farmers paying dipping levies and make accaricide availability, controlled by the DVs (District Vet Services) and Dip tank Livestock Development Committees (LDCs)
Key word: Smallholder, tick-borne, livestock, inconsistent
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Cattle management
- Dipping practices
- Tick-borne diseases
- Supervisor
- Mr Pagute
- Item sets
- Department of Animal Sciences
