07 Mar 2016

The director of Veterinary Services, Dr Letlhogile Madisa has urged Ngamiland farmers to ensure a smooth implementation of the individual identification exercise aimed to ear tag all cattle in the district.

The exercise, which has been funded to the tune of P20 million started January this year and was expected to be conducted in all zones in Ngamiland for free as the region had been experiencing a prolonged absence of beef market due to livestock disease outbreaks.

Addressing North West District full council session, Dr Madisa said ear tagging was one of the European Union (EU) requirements which promote good farming practices. He said the system was a step in the right direction as it would help the country meet the requirements of EU market which proved difficult under bolus system.

It was reported that Bolus had been a problem in Ngamiland district due to Food and Mouth outbreak and believed that ear tagging would benefit farmers by addressing challenges faced in bolus.

“In Ngamiland, this system is very important as it will determine cattle that have been vaccinated and those which have not and farmers will be required to tag their cattle at all times,” he said.

Dr Madisa mentioned some of objectives of the campaign as to capture all vaccinated cattle and easy traceability of cattle owners.

He said the exercise would also assist in the battle to win Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the district and open doors for Ngamiland beef market.

He said if the exercise could be conducted well; there was a possibility to apply to the World Animal Organisation to declare the district free without vaccination.

He encouraged councillors to support the initiative by encouraging farmers to bring all their cattle for ear tagging to ensure the exercise becomes a success and produces expected results.

Furthermore, he said the government was doing its best to support their district which has a good future in livestock production.

Councillors were also informed about the take-over of Livestock Advisory Centres (LACs) by the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB).

Dr Madisa said the take-over was very important as farmers would be serviced efficiently while his department would now focus on public health as per the new policy.

He explained that it had been indicated that 68 per cent of diseases affecting people came from animals hence the need to protect the community’s lives.

However, despite the government decision to increase the amount given to farmers when their cattle have been confiscated for unlawfully entering the buffalo fence to P700 per beast, some councillors still felt that the amount was not enough.

They called for 100 per cent compensation arguing that the maintenance of the buffalo fences was inadequate and that the fence had not been maintained for a very long time now.

Cllr Ngatumbwe Kazombongo of Nokaneng complained of uncompleted fences hence free movement of cattle because of open spaces along the buffalo fence. 

He also pointed a finger at some veterinary officers whom he said were insensitive to farmers’ concerns.

Cllr Mpoke Karapo shared the same sentiments noting that zone 16 has no fence hence the need to compensate farmers 100 per cent for the 33 cattle killed last year.

In response, Dr Madisa explained that “whether the fence is down or not complete, there is a boundary that the farmers have to observe and encourage farmers to take care of their livestock.” Ends