WITH eyes on lucrative meat markets locally and abroad, the government is embarking on an unprecedented nationwide vaccination and identification campaign, being launched June 16 at Bariadi, Simiyu Region.

Dr Ashatu Kijaji, the Livestock and Fisheries minister, said at a press conference here yesterday that the exercise is intended to meet global animal health standards and ease trade barriers limiting the country’s livestock exports.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to officiate at the launch of the national livestock vaccination and identification campaign at Nyakabindi grounds in Bariadi.
The initiative, backed by a 216bn/- investment over five years (2025–2029), is part of a broader strategy to eliminate preventable animal diseases, modernize animal health management and increase the sector's contribution to the national economy, she stated.
Despite boasting an impressive livestock population of 39.2m cattle, 28.6m goats, 9.7m sheep, 108.2m chickens and 4.1mi pigs by available statistics, the sector contributes 6.2percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), she said.
This underperformance in part explained as arising from persistent livestock diseases, reducing productivity and diminishing livestock numbers while also blocking access to international markets for non-compliance with global health standards, she elaborated.
At least 70 percent of the livestock population needs to be vaccinated annually for five consecutive years to meet benchmarks set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), she said.
“Achieving this will allow Tanzanian livestock and animal products to enter high-demand markets abroad particularly in Asia and Europe,” she further noted, pointing at significant strides over the past four years.
From 2021 to 2025, a total of 548 new livestock dipping tanks were built and another 1,014 dipping sites were rehabilitated at a total cost of 11.6bn/-.
Additionally, a total of 147,907.75litres of livestock pesticide priced at 6.7bn/- was distributed across the country, with these interventions cutting deaths from tick-borne and insect-transmitted diseases from 72 percent in 2021 to 45 percent prevalence in 2025, she specified.
The new national vaccination campaign shifts from a fragmented approach where vaccinations were carried out sporadically by individual farmers, large ranches or local government authorities.
This approach was ineffective in controlling outbreaks of major diseases, thus initiating a nationwide campaign where an estimated 19,097,223 cattle will be vaccinated against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP).
A total of 17m goats and sheep will receive protection against ‘peste des petits ruminants (small ruminants’ peste or PPR).
Indigenous chickens—about 40m—will be vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND), fowlpox and avian influenza, she stated, noting that to support the rollout, the government has allocated 69.2bn/- for fiscal 2024/2025.
The campaign will also see the distribution of 700 motorbikes and 4,500 tablets to livestock extension officers, tools that will help in collecting real-time data on animal health, disease reporting and production, she said.
Crucially, the campaign also integrates animal identification. All vaccinated animals will be tagged with electronic ear tags to facilitate traceability, registration and tracking. This digital identification system is essential for meeting the traceability requirements of international trade, officials say.
The campaign is expected to generate temporary employment for 3,540 recent graduates from livestock training institutes, working alongside government veterinary officers during the rollout.
Ahead of the national launch, the Tanzania Livestock Keepers Association will host a national livestock keepers' symposium from June 14 to 15 in Bariadi, expected to be graced by Ambassador Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, the ruling party secretary general.
The minister is seeking that livestock keepers across the country cooperate with vaccination schedules in their areas. "Let’s take full advantage of this opportunity for the health and prosperity of our animals," he urged.
Livestock stakeholders, especially those in Lake Zone regions, need to attend the launch event and show their support for the president's initiative, he added