02 Nov 2020

Assistant Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake says government was addressing challenges that have befallen the Okavango region.

Addressing village leadership and farmers’ committees from Shakawe and Nxamasera recently, Ms Manake urged the Okavango community to remain calm in the midst of natural disasters that mar their region.

She cited the African Migratory Locust that had invaded some areas and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks, which had been confirmed at Nxamasera extension and Xakao areas.

She revealed that government was intensifying control measures to eradicate FMD, which had crippled the beef industry, as well as fighting the locust, which was threatening food security and livelihoods of the people as the ploughing season had started.

Ms Manake informed the gathering that government was expecting some environmentally friendly pesticides from Morocco to suppress the locusts, especially in hotspots such as Okavango Delta.

She noted that surveillance teams were in the field, adding that if not controlled, the locusts may spread to other districts and frustrate farmers’ efforts.

She said it was unfortunate that government did not compensate farmers for locust destruction of their crops.

The locusts, the assistant minister said, destroyed vegetation for both livestock and wildlife as well as crops, adding that in some areas, they had managed to control it using methazilhium (a fungus used as a pesticide), which does not pollute the environment.

Ms Manake urged the community to join forces with government to overcome the challenges in their region, stressing that government alone could not win the battle.

She said the locust and FMD outbreaks exacerbated the already serious economic challenges the country was facing, including resource constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With regard to FMD, Ms Manake highlighted that the ministry had dispatched some teams to conduct surveillance and vaccination as control measures in the district.

She revealed that maintenance of cordon fences around the delta as well as border fences was ongoing and urged residents to adhere to movement restrictions imposed by the ministry in an effort to control the spread of the disease.

She said the ministry had suspended movement of all cloven-hoofed animals and related products throughout the affected areas and Zone 2b.

The assistant minister acknowledged that the recurrence of FMD in the region had frustrated efforts to secure lucrative beef markets, lamenting that some farmers undermined government efforts as they failed to have all their cattle vaccinated during campaigns.

Ms Manake also said the situation was compounded by farmers who failed to take good care of their cattle, adding that stray animals were also worrisome as they could not be vaccinated, hence worsening the situation.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Jimmy Opelo concurred that government was doing all it could to control and contain FMD and locust outbreaks.

He urged the community to augment those efforts.

He said outbreaks had been declared a national disaster, and through unity, they could win the battle as other countries had done.

Mr Opelo said the ministry was undergoing a restructuring exercise with the intention to improve extension services by bringing services closer to communities. ENDS