Malawi to take over dip tank operations
Plans by government to take over the day-to-day operations of dip tanks that stopped functioning in most parts of the country are at an advanced stage, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ulemu Chilapondwa has said.
Chilapondwa said this in an interview yesterday that the decision by the previous government to let local people run the dip tanks with their own resources and proper expertise was counterproductive because three quarters of the dip tanks are now dry.
Said Chilapondwa: “We will be bringing in legislation before this year ends, to ensure that as government, we take control.
“In most areas, there were outbreaks of ticks and information was reaching government late because without animal health assistants in rural areas, there was no coordination.”
Asked if the government decision has come about because of the One-Cow-One Family programme being championed by President Joyce Banda, Chilapondwa admitted that this is one of the projects that has compelled government to seriously revive dip tank operations.
Malawi imports most of its dairy and beef products from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Europe even South America and this also leads to the drain of the hard-earned forex.
