ARUSHA, Tanzania (Xinhua) -- Tanzania is set to ban slaughtering of donkey effective from July in an effort to restore the number of the domesticated animals that are threatened by the high demand for its meat. Charles Tizeba, Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, said Sunday that the move is part of the government’s efforts to save the animals from extinction taking into account that in recent years the pace at which the donkeys are slaughtered does not correspond with the number available in the country. The minister said that the government’s goal is to see that the workforce of the available donkeys that reaches 572,357 benefits rural dwellers especially women. “Those who engage in donkey slaughtering should get prepared to find other businesses to do or engage in cattle or goat meat trade,” he said It is estimated that in the 2016/17 fiscal year, at least 1,789.06 tonnes of donkey meat were exported to Dubai, Iraq and Vietnam, compared with 711.82 tonnes and 439.03 tonnes of goat and cattle meat respectively. Tizeba said meat production in the country has declined from 648,810 tonnes in last fiscal year to 558,164 tonnes this fiscal year, citing shortage of pasture due to prolonged drought in various parts of the country.