17 Jan 2021

Farmers in Ngami have requested government to consider quarantining animals that enter the Okavango Delta through the cordon fence to check whether or not they had Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

They said those cleared of the disease should be given back to the owners and not killed.

The suggestions came up in random interviews following reports of cattle that were recently killed along the buffalo fence. 

Residents acknowledged that the disease had haunted the district, but that killing was not the best solution since livestock rearing was a source of living for the community.

FMD, they said, had eroded the social and economic status of Ngamiland people and that killing livestock because fences were poorly maintained or farmers were failing to look after their animals was not the way to go. Residents argued that Ngamiland used to be among the rich regions in the country, but that FMD had denied them access to lucrative markets. Farmers also claimed that tourism was being favoured at the expense of agriculture.

A farmer, Mr John Benn said although cattle owners were to blame for not taking care of their animals, government also was not doing enough to maintain the fences.

Mr Benn said killing livestock on the basis that they mixed with buffaloes, which are FMD carriers, has put a strain on farmers. He also complained  that money paid as compensation was too low.

He said putting the animals in a quarantine and testing them for FMD would serve farmers better.

Mr Benn appreciated that the fences were constructed to protect the livestock sector, but said they now suffocate the regions’ main economic potential.

He was also unhappy that government failed to keep its promise to maintain the fence.

Hainaveld Farmers Association chairperson, Mr Killer Ledimo said government should look for other means of preventing cattle from coming into contact with buffaloes.

He said killing was not the solution because farmers and government were failing their responsibilities.

He said it should be proved that the cattle contracted FMD before they could be killed, adding that elephants and buffaloes made it difficult to successfully fight FMD.

Mr Tlamelo Molefe felt that there was need to review what was happening and to align it with current challenges.

He said killing cattle without testing them was not proper. He concurred with other farmers that they should be quarantined and clean ones freed. Ends