02 Mar 2025

Inadequate maintenance of cordon fences and destruction by the growing elephant population are some of the compounding factors resulting in the current unstable FMD situation in Botswana.

Speaking in Parliament last week on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said other factors included inadequate vaccination coverage and non-compliance with movement controls and animal traceability requirement.

Despite the daunting challenges, he said lands ministry was implementing several initiatives such as vaccination and quarantining, and commodity-based trade (CBT) where beef carcasses were subjected to a process that inactivate the virus.

He said CBT enabled Ngamiland beef to be exported to markets including the Middle East. Furthermore, Mr Mmolotsi said the ministry embarked on a FMD official control programme that aimed to progressively eradicate the disease from Ngamiland and the Okavango district.

“This project is underpinned by implementation of a robust disease surveillance, animal traceability, risk-based vaccination and establishment of FMD free compartments,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi said the World Organisation for Animal Health had endorsed Botswana’s FMD official control program, which he said was a huge milestone achieved in spite insurmountable challenges.

The ministry, he said also started a process to establish a Protection Zone in Ngamiland, which would contribute to the overall initiative by reducing FMD risk and consequently the number of cattle that needed to be vaccinated, and eventually establish FMD free compartments.

For Senkobo disease and bont tick, he said the ministry would continue to work closely with farmers to implement basic controls such as regular dipping of livestock to control the diseases.

“This includes possible partnerships with communities and development partners to establish dip-tanks in strategic areas, being mindful of the acaricide resistance problem and sensitivity of the delta,” said Mmolotsi.

Okavango East MP, Mr Gabatsholwe Disho had asked the Minister of Lands and Agriculture to outline the plan for eradicating diseases such FMD, and also the tropical bont tick to improve agricultural production and livelihoods of Batswana. ENDS