12 Jun 2019

Residents of Sehithwa in the Ngamiland  District have been implored to recommit to ending Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The call was made by the Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Konstantinos Markus when addressing them on June 11.

Mr Markus, who is also Member of Parliament for Maun East, observed that the FMD vaccine had experienced poor compliance this year with only about 35 per cent of the cattle vaccinated compared to 85 per cent last year.

The assistant minister said the unvaccinated percentage accounted for about 100 000 cattle in the district.

Failure to comply to FMD vaccine, he said, would reverse the gains made so far in containing the disease.

Mr Markus therefore urged the residents of Sehithwa and nearby villages to take precautions by reporting any suspicious signs of FMD.

He said fighting the disease would bring hope for the farmers since FMD had limited market potential for their cattle.

He also said stray cattle were a concern, especially those that were found at Lake Ngami in Sehithwa, which he said were never vaccinated, therefore increasing chances of spreading the disease.

He implored the residents to map strategies to address the challenges of stray cattle to ensure adherence to vaccination.

Mr Markus urged the farmers to be patient with the Botswana Animal Information & Traceability System (BAITS), saying it was initiated to help find markets for their cattle, since international market standards required beef that had traceable origins and identity easily accessible in a computerised system.

BAITS requires cattle to have ear tags that are linked to computerised information.

Farmers complained that the process to confirm data on ear tags against the system at the Department of Veterinary Services offices in Maun prior to sale of their cattle took a toll on them since they had to travel back and forth.

Many farmers requested that an office with internet be opened in Sehithwa to help address the challenges.

Some farmers were of the view that a matimela kraal and mini quarantine kraals be established in Sehithwa to be used for keeping and vaccinating them. ends