08 Oct 2023

North West District Development Committee members have been commended for playing a meaningful role in preventing livestock disease outbreaks.

The committee on Friday embarked on Senkobo awareness campaign at Quoxao crush in the Shorobe extension area aimed at educating farmers and demonstrating how to dip and control ticks that cause Senkobo disease.

The area is said to be hard hit by the tick as farmers lost over 700 animals and members contributed money to buy dips and other vaccines.

Speaking during the campaign, Shorobe deputy chief, Kgosi Maphomo Maphomo praised members for voluntarily tackling some challenges faced by the district, noting that Senkobo disease had affected the local economy as farmers had lost many animals.

He commended members for resuscitating the principle of self-reliance and unity as they contributed some monies to assist the farmers.

“We are impressed to see DDC members acting swiftly to assist farmers to contain the disease. This campaign will motivate us as farmers to be knowledgeable and do the right thing to control the disease,” he added.

The district, he said was prone to livestock diseases, citing Tsetsefly,acknowledging that government in collaboration with farmers managed to eradicate the fly.

Kgosi Maphomo said with  stakeholders collectively working  together, they could indeed eradicate the tick-borne causing Senkobo disease.

Bojanala councillor, Mr Luke Motlaleselelo also applauded DDC members for taking upon themselves to fight the disease which had impoverished farmers.

“This is a welcome development to see members embracing the mind set change to revive the spirit of self-reliance which helped the country to attain development,” he added.
The education and dip demonstration by officers, he said would enhance farmers knowledge so that they take the lead in the fight.

Mr Motlaleselelo also appealed to the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust to consider installing a dip tank in the area to cushion the farming community.

For his part, North West District commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka said as the drivers of the government programmes, they found it fit to embark on the campaign as a community service initiative to tackle some challenges faced by the district.

The tick-borne, he said had since 2015 been ravaging some areas in the district, such as Gumare and Tubu while Shorobe extension areas experienced an outbreak in 2020 resulting in some farmers losing livestock.

While he appreciated efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture to fight Senkobo disease, he said members contributed funds to buy dipping vaccines to augment what had been done because ‘we believe the tick can be controlled if we work together as a unit just like in other countries such as Zambia where the community and the government jointly eradicated the Senkobo disease,” he added.

Mr Waloka said farmers also had to change their attitudes towards controlling the disease by playing an active role in reducing dependency on government.

He said cattle farming was the source of livelihood in the region hence it was wise to do all to prevent disease outbreaks, noting that the country was aspiring to become high income status and that could be achieved if all played a part to transform and grow the cattle industry.

The district commissioner said the community also relied on tourism activities and emphasised the need for all to grow the tourism sector towards attaining the high income status.

Different experts drilled farmers on how to dip and control the tick using different methods and they also advised farmers to dip regularly to prevent the tick-borne disease.

Botswana Meat Commission representative, Mr Goitsemodimo Dintsi drilled farmers on the importance of quality meat, saying failure to tackle the tick would affect production at the abattoir, resulting in farmers not reaping benefits from their animals.

He advised farmers to do the right thing and supply the abattoir with healthy animals so that they enjoy good returns.

Ngami District Health Management Team coordinator, Dr Sandra Maripe-Ebutswe told farmers that Senkobo could be transmitted to humans hence she encouraged the farming community to be vigilant and always wear gloves when handling cattle.

Farmers were also advised to wash hands with clean water and soap after handling the infected animals.

She however, said they had not recorded any case associated with the disease. Ends