The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER) has revealed that national production of livestock vaccines grew by 10 per cent in 2023, to 41.3 million doses. According to the balance report, animals were vaccinated against anthrax, symptomatic anthrax, nodular dermatosis, foot-and-mouth disease and rabies, reaching an average vaccination coverage of 79% in cattle.
According to the document, in the period under review, 436 outbreaks of cattle diseases were reported, as opposed to 444 cases in 2022, highlighting that Gaza province, in southern Mozambique, recorded the most diseases, with a total of 116 cases.
“The reduction in the number of outbreaks is the result of the health control measures that the subsector has been implementing, with a view to preventing the outbreak and spread of diseases. In order to achieve the health defence of the animal population and fulfil the obligations of the agreements ratified with international bodies on animal health and trade, the objective of guaranteeing minimum vaccination coverage of 80% has been set,” the document explains.
MADER clarifies that foot-and-mouth disease is the disease with the greatest negative impact on the economy, with Mozambique having recorded 15 outbreaks in 2023 (13 in Tete province and two in Manica), compared to a peak of 25 in 2022.
“Its occurrence could lead to a ban on the country’s commercial transactions with other international markets, both for animal and plant products from the affected areas,” he points out.
As for bovine tuberculosis, an endemic disease spread throughout the country, the authorities have counted 98 outbreaks, compared to 149 in 2022 and 56 in 2021.
“In the last ten years, the disease has spread rapidly, from 48 infected districts to 87. The prevalence has tended to increase due to the weak policy of testing and compensating slaughtered cattle, as well as the poor compliance of breeders, despite the availability of tuberculin for treatment,” he argues.
