The government has officially launched a nationwide livestock vaccination and identification campaign aimed at modernising the livestock sector, enhancing product quality, and unlocking international markets.
The five-year initiative, backed by a TSh 216 billion budget, was unveiled in Babati District, Manyara Region, where more than 400 animals were vaccinated and tagged during the first day of the rollout.
The programme is expected to be a game-changer for livestock keepers across Tanzania by addressing long-standing challenges such as disease outbreaks and limited access to high-value markets.
Speaking at the launch, Babati District Executive Director, Mr Thobias Abwaro, who represented the District Commissioner, said the campaign aligns with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader commitment to transforming the agricultural sector.
“This national programme, running from 2025 to 2029, is a bold move by President Samia to protect our livestock and support our farmers. She has approved a 100 percent subsidy for poultry vaccines and a 50 percent subsidy for cattle, goat and sheep vaccines,” Mr Abwaro said.
As a result, vaccines for cattle will cost only TSh 500, while those for goats and sheep will cost TSh 300 a significant reduction aimed at encouraging mass participation.
Mr Abwaro said past efforts to control livestock diseases had been uncoordinated, often left to local governments and individual farmers, resulting in low vaccination coverage and persistent outbreaks.
“To successfully eradicate livestock diseases, we need at least 70 percent coverage, and this is only possible under a well-coordinated national framework,” he added.
He also praised President Samia’s leadership and investment in the livestock sector, saying the initiative will open commercial opportunities and improve livelihoods for pastoralists.
Professor Erick Komba, Director General of the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), described the initiative as timely and necessary.
“For years, livestock diseases have decimated herds and undermined the quality of our animal products, making it difficult to compete in international markets,” Prof Komba said.
“This campaign will not only improve animal health and productivity but will also lift incomes for farmers and make Tanzanian livestock products globally competitive.”he added
He urged livestock keepers across the country to participate fully in the campaign.
“This is a golden opportunity that comes with government support. Let us not let it go to waste. Full participation is the only way we can eradicate livestock diseases once and for all,” he emphasised.
The campaign is a key part of the government’s strategy to modernise the livestock sector, which supports millions of Tanzanians, particularly in rural areas.
Analysts say the initiative could also boost Tanzania’s chances of penetrating premium export markets, especially in the Middle East and Asia, where there is rising demand for traceable and disease-free livestock products.
The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries plans to deploy vaccination teams across all regions, with priority given to high-density livestock areas.
The campaign will also facilitate animal identification through tagging, allowing for better disease surveillance, movement control, and market traceability critical elements for meeting international standards.
The government’s renewed focus on the livestock sector reflects a broader policy shift towards agriculture-led industrialisation, with livestock emerging as one of the key drivers of rural economic development.
As the campaign gains momentum, the hope is that it will not only safeguard animal health but also pave the way for Tanzania to become a major player in the global livestock trade.