HEIFER International has challenged the Zambian private sector to invest heavily in the livestock industry to invigorate growth and sustain the local livestock sector.

Support from the private sector would also help to supplement Government efforts aimed at encouraging growth in the whole livestock industry.

Country director James Kasongo urged the private sector to channel more resources to the livestock industry to make it more viable and competitive.

He said the private sector was happy with the Government's intentions of putting up dip tanks in all districts across the country, saying it would greatly contribute to the growth of the sector and help curb livestock diseases.

Government announced that it would put up dip tanks across the country aimed at intensifying the fight against livestock diseases and develop the sector as a whole.

The move would enhance Government's support towards the growth of the livestock sector.

Mr Kasongo said the intentions by the Government to establish dip tanks would spur growth of the industry and enable farmers to earn more money from different livestock activities.

He said the move would address challenges of disease outbreaks among small-scale farmers as it had remained the major limiting factor to the growth of the sector.

"The private sector should complement the Government's effort in development by ensuring that they increased investments as national development cannot be left to the Government alone," he said.

Mr Kasongo said the fact that the Government was committed to growing the industry; the private sector should be more active in such an initiative for its speedy implementation.