South Sudan seeks to boost livestock sector with new disease surveillance system

JUBA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Tuesday launched construction of a new animal health diagnostic laboratory aimed at strengthening the country's livestock disease surveillance system.

The project estimated to cost about 1 million U.S. dollars would see the world's youngest nation set up new state of the art animal laboratory to help in detecting diseases like the deadly Rift Valley Fever and the Foot and Mouth Disease, which are endemic in South Sudan.

Livestock Minister James Duku said the facility will translate into an improvement of food security and livestock-based livelihoods of the majority of South Sudanese people.

Currently there is no animal health laboratory in the whole of war-torn South Sudan as it relies on neighboring countries for its animal health needs.

"The project will ultimately help improve the provision of evidence-based animal health services as well as implement an effective animal disease reporting, monitoring and control system in South Sudan," said Felix Dzvurumi, FAO head of Programs in South Sudan.

South Sudan is home to an estimated 11.7 million cattle, 12.4 million goats and 12.1 million sheep, according to data from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, but the sector estimated to be worth 4.6 billion dollars remains largely untapped.

"We need credible laboratory like this so that South Sudan can access the international market with its livestock products. These huge resources can diversify the economy." said Jacob Maiju Korok, South Sudan's chief Veterinary Officer.