A
month ago, Zambia made a historic milestone with the successful export of its
first consignment of beef to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a
new era in regional trade and agricultural value addition breakthrough. This
achievement stands as a clear testament to the Government’s commitment to
facilitating economic diversification and to empowering the country's livestock
sector, whose cattle population is estimated to be over 4 million.
The
Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and in
collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services and the beef
production private sector, has effectively ensured compliance with the World
Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards for animal health and food safety
at least for some zones. This leadership has fostered a conducive environment
for the beef sector, potentially allowing Zambia to reach its US$1 billion beef
export target sooner, as recently noted by Dr. Misheck Mulumba, the Manager for
the Zambia Beef Export Project.
This
success highlights the critical role of effective supply chain management in
the beef industry from cattle rearing to distribution. Advanced inventory
management, digital tracking, and cold chain monitoring are essential to
enhance quality and minimise spoilage. Therefore, supply chain optimisation is
important for sustainability, profitability, and customer satisfaction in this
sector due to the perishable nature of beef.
To
achieve the US$1 billion beef export target, deliberate investments in
infrastructure and capacity-building are necessary for small and medium-scale
farmers in beef production. The Government should create credit facilities for
these farmers to expand production or acquire refrigeration equipment.
Increasing the number of livestock extension officers would improve disease
control and animal welfare, while building more dams in cattle-producing areas
would also enhance water security and pasture management, especially during dry
seasons.
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