26 Aug 2013

Some residents in the Okavango Sub-district have requested government to re-consider compensating the farming community whose cattle had been affected by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

They suggested that the FMD outbreak should be treated similar to the outbreak of the cattle lung disease where farmers were paid for their lost cattle. Residents said this during a meeting addressed by the district commissioner, Ms Bernadette Malala who toured the district to appreciate issues and challenges faced by the communities.

They said people were living in poverty and yet they had many cattle which were not benefiting them. They said during the outbreak of the cattle lung disease, farmers were compensated with food and money to look after their families but now the situation was disheartening as many were unable to neither provide for their families nor pay school fees for their children.

Residents complained about some elephants that destroyed both livestock and fields. They appealed to government to reduce the population of elephants as they had impoverished them. They complained of wildlife officials who did not respond in time to reports about damages caused by elephants.

Kgosi Kebonyetsala Fish of Nokaneng said life had dramatically changed as villagers survived through farming and rearing of livestock and elephants have frustrated their efforts at the fields while cattle are dying due to drought.

Kgosi Fish appreciated the government efforts to introduce agricultural programs adding that due to animal crop destructions they produce low yields. He called on government to urgently address the problem facing the beef market and to speed up the maintenance of the buffalo fence. Residents complained about lack of proper consultation between veterinary officers and the communities.

They said officers do not inform them in time about vaccination nor give them feedback about the situation of FMD in their area.  Responding to comments, Ms Malala informed residents that efforts had been made to address challenges faced by farming community. She in an effort to mitigate drought impact in the Ngamiland and Bobirwa districts, the government has allocated farmers 35 per cent subsidy on cattle products.

Ms Malala said officials from the Ministry of Agriculture had reported that the FMD situation has improved and government continued to make efforts to secure market, adding that in order to mitigate drought effects, government has made a decision to allow the export of live cattle.  ENDS