13 Oct 2016

Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, has recommended the use of measles pills to curb measles infections.

Mr Autlwetse said, since the call to establish toilet facilities at lands and cattle post proved futile, farmers, herdsmen and their visitors should tuse the pills.

Also, the assistant minister stated that even the call to cover human excrement with soil was in vain.

The fact that 10 per cent of cattle sold to Botswana Meat Commission was infected by measles, he said the use of pills would be the only way out.

He said measles pills cost about P30.

Mr Autlwetse encouraged farmers to take the pills together with the herdsmen as well as those who visit them at lands and cattle post.

He made this call on Monday and Tuesday when addressing a series of kgotla meetings at Sajwe, Hulwane, Botepetepe and Khumanego lands.

Mr Autlwetse, who is a Member of Parliament for Serowe North, also implored farmers to take the responsibility of taking care of their cattle rather than solely depending on government.

He told  pastoral farmers that it was their responsibility to make sure that cattle were vaccinated, among other things.
Arable farmers, he said, must maintain cluster fences. ENDS