14 Dec 2023

The Ministry of Agriculture continues to monitor the dermatophilosis disease situation in the Ngamiland and Okavango areas and support the farming community for sustainable control, says Assistant Minister Molebatsi Molebatsi.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Molebatsi said the control and management of dermatophilosis disease needed regular and sustainable tick control or dipping of the affected livestock in order to keep low tick infestation.

He said the management of the tick in Ngamiland including Okavango suffered lack of sustained dipping, which resulted in poor control of the tick and dermatophilosis. 

“The lack of sustained dipping was due to poor compliance by the farming communities,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi said in the country drought subsidy, the dips and antibiotics used for the treatment of dermatophilosis were subsidised at a rate of 50 per cent. 

“At this rate the farmer pays 50 per cent and the other half by government,” added Mr Molebatsi.

He said his ministry had assisted the farming community by training farmers and providing dips. Recently, he said the ministry in collaboration with Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) providing a long-acting dip to the farming communities affected by the disease. 

Mr Molebatsi said the dip was good for use in animals that were destined for slaughter and consumption in four months.

Okavango MP Mr Kenny Kapinga had asked the minister to apprise Parliament on why he had refused to heed the desperate call by farmers in Okavango East to be helped with community dipping facilities at a time when their livestock was being ravaged by the bont tick disease.

Mr Kapinga also wanted the minister to state whether he would accept that his ministry’s response was too reluctant thereby resulting in the total loss of livestock for many farmers in the Okavango.

Additionally, Mr Kapinga asked if government had plans to rescue those who became destitutes as a result of the tick infestation and loss of cattle. ends