21 Jun 2013

The maintenance of veterinary cordon fences across zones continues to hamper efforts by Ministry of Agriculture to fight Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Briefing members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi on Wednesday, Department of Veterinary Services director, Dr Letlhogile Modisa said elephants destroyed the fences and the situation was worsened by the animals' population increase.

He said the number of elephants was growing at an alarming rate, adding that their number at 207 000 as at the year 2012.

He said despite the challenges, his ministry continued to find solutions as they collaborated with prison services to use prisoners to maintain the fence. The Ipelegeng employees, he said, were also engaged to assist in fence maintenance.

Dr Modisa, however, informed dikgosi that the FMD situation in Ngamiland had significantly improved, although they still recorded sporadic cases with the last case picked in Habu extension area on June 7.

Dr Modisa also stated that following the spillover of FMD into small stock, government had decided to destroy all affected small stock and compensate farmers. He highlighted that the ministry had expected 30 000 small stock, but had so far received 7 765 from farmers and 4 994 of them had been killed.

Kgosi Kea Lempadi of the Okavango region advised the Ministry of Agriculture officials to continue pushing marketing FMD affected livestock to other countries, especially those which had shown interest such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Angola.

Kgosi Kegaisamang Ramokwena of Maun region called on the ministry officials to collaboratively work with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to assist in the control of elephants’ movement across zones. He advised the officials to seek advice from people who were knowledgeable on elephants to assist them control movements of elephants.  ENDS