(FMD) disease, whichhas cost the country its lucrative
beef exports, according to a report bythe Cattle Producers' Association
(CPA).

The Department of Veterinary
Services (DVS) is battling to controlFMD, but its efforts are being hampered
by the illegal movement of cattle inareas that have been branded FMD
zones.

According to the CPA report, the
disease has also been worsened by themovement of cattle from areas that have
been worst hit by drought to thosethat have better
pastureland. Sales of cattle to raise money to
purchase food have also resulted inthe illegal movement of
cattle.

"The DVS is experiencing
difficulty in controlling the spread of FMDdue to the increased movement of
cattle.

"There is therefore a need to
vaccinate increased numbers of cattle insensitive areas against FMD, with
forex requirements over two years ofUS$15-20 million," the report
said.

The FMD vaccines have to be
imported, but it is unlikely thattheZimbabwe government will be able to
raise the hard cash required because itis already battling to find forex for
fuel and electricity imports.

The Food and
Agriculture Organisation has made an appeal for US$4million to help fight
FMD in Zimbabwe, but is still to receive a responsefrom international
donors.

Zimbabwe stopped exports of
chilled boneless beef to the EuropeanUnion (EU) market in August 2001
because of the disease. The country had abeef quota of 9 000 tonnes in the
EU.

The CPA said the commercial cattle
beef herd had declined from a highof 436 000 in 2000 to below 200 000 by the
end of last year.

Besides a massive
destocking exercise that reached its peak last year,the CPA said the
industry had also been hit by shortages of
stockfeeds.

Grain shortages, a result of
the drought in the past agricultureseason and reduced output from the
commercial farming