10 Sep 2014

The department of veterinary services has been unable to do vaccinations for anthrax and black quarter due to lack of resources, chairperson of Central District Council (CDC), Mr Lesego Raditanka told the full council meeting on September 8.

Mr Raditanka said in a quest to improve service delivery, the department was engaging qualified private individuals inoculators including retired ones to do vaccinations for farmers.

He said the interested individuals with a minimum qualification of certificate in animal health and production or related field were registered with the department to carry out vaccinations for farmers. The chairperson told the council that those that will be engaged will be compensated at P4 per beast vaccinated.

Mr Raditanka said the department would provide free vaccines to farmers and they will make arrangements for vaccination with the private inoculators.

Furthermore, he told the council that the annual vaccination of contagious abortion had since stopped as of last month because of the absence of the disease country wide.

Also, the CDC chairperson stated that shortage of drugs and feeds at the Livestock Advisory Centre (LACs) was anticipated.

He explained that LACs in his region will experience shortage of drugs and feeds during the second quarter due to the long and tedious tender processes.

Regarding the cordon fence maintenance, Mr Raditanka said the department is engaging farmers and casual labourers from nearby villagers to assist in the maintenance of the structures.

The exercise that was started in Selibe Phikwe and Nata, he said will greatly benefit communities as they will be on a casual labourer’s wage.

Further, he said Letlhakane started to engage farmers along the Makgadikgadi fence starting September 01. ENDS