16 Apr 2026

Government will continue to strengthen prevention and control measures in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in an effort to retain the premium European Union market, says Acting Minister of Lands an Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti.

Addressing kgotla meeting in Digawana on April 15, Dr Dikototi said following the outbreak of FMD in a traditionally green Zone 11 for over 50 years, Botswana would continue to put control measures in place to contain the disease in an effort to retain the lucrative beef EU market.

To achieve that, he said farmers and members of the public must ensure strict adherence to FMD protocols in place and employ biosecurity measures in their farms.

He thus implored farmers to bring forth their cattle and cloven-hooved animals for the ongoing surveillance where teams of veterinary doctors were on the ground carrying out the FMD surveillance in the Good Hope district.

He underscored that if farmers strictly complied with the set protocols, Zone 11 would be back to its green status between 3-6 months.

He said Botswana complied to international World Organisation for Animal Health Standards with regards to FMD, adding that the regulations reflected that if the country took two years without winning the battle against FMD, the zone would be listed as red.

To be relisted as a Green Zone, he said was not easy. Thus he said it was critical for all to fight to retain the green zone status in order to retain the EU market.

He said it was better to strive to maintain a green zone, which was a primary requisite to supply the EU beef market. ENDS