07 Apr 2019

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security assistant minister, Mr Konstantinos Markus says the fight against the amblyomma tik that kills livestock in Gumare and surrounding areas needs intensive government intervention.

Speaking during a Kgotla meeting in Gumare on April 3, Mr Markus said the community alone could not eradicate the tick that had brought misery to farmers since 2014.

He therefore apologised on behalf of the Department of Veterinary Services for not taking prompt action when cases of the tick were first reported in areas of Tubu, Samotshoka and Ngocho settlements.

Furthermore, Mr Markus said though Ngamiland was prone to misfortunes such as the Foot and Mouth Disease, drought, Tsetse fly, lung disease and the amblyomma tick, government would never neglect the region and would continue to be concerned about the lives of Ngami people.

The assistant minister said the tick situation was heartbreaking, hence encouraged farmers to join hands with government during these tragic times.

He said the situation would need regular dipping of animals by veterinary officers, hence farmers should also cooperate by availing all their cattle during those times.

Mr Markus also said after assisting farmers with the dipping process, there would be need for government to provide farmers with vaccines to treat the heart water disease caused by the ambyomma tick.

Movement or relocation of animals by farmers is another aspect that Mr Markus said would need close monitoring to avoid the spread of the tick to free areas because the amblyomma was reported to have now been seen in areas such as Gudigwa, Beetsha and Qangwa.

Gumare Farmers Association chairperson, Mr Motang Gabofele said since 2014 to date, reported cases of cattle mortality caused by the tick stood at 16 690. 

He said this year was a drought period and the mortality rate was soaring because animals had little to feed on, hence weak and easily got killed by the tick.

Mr Gabofele also complained about lack of scientific officers in the area, noting that Gumare only had field assistants, hence compromised education pertaining to the tick that could be imparted to farmers.

He was also of the view that had the department responsible promptly acted when the tick was first discovered in 2014, the situation could be manageable by now.

A resident, Mr Omphile Maundo said as farmers, they were challenged with gathering their cattle to one place during the time of dipping because their livestock would be all over in search of water.

Some farmers suggested that the remaining livestock in the affected areas be killed just like it was done during the lung disease era, and a thorough treatment of the land be done with subsequent restocking. ENDS