Cattle industry welcomes lifting of livestock movement ban

Various stakeholders have welcomed the Ministry of Agriculture’s (MoA) decision to lift the ban on the movement of cattle introduced in Zone 6 (b) to contain the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). An FMD outbreak hit Zone 6 (b) in August 2022.

In September 2022, the government decided to depopulate the area and compensate farmers for approximately 10,000 FMD-infected culled livestock in Zone 6 (b). Initially, MoA set a compensation fee of P2,840 per beast, irrespective of the cattle breed, but later increased it to P3,000 after farmers complained that the compensation was too low.

According to a recent press release from the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Kefentse Motshegwa, titled ‘Revised movement protocol for the live cloven-hoofed animals in the containment Zone 6 (b)’, The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has reinstated FMD free status of Zone (b) containment zone (Jackalas 1 and 2, Ramokgwebana, Sinyawe, Butale, Tshesebe, Tsamaya, and Mabudzane).

“Therefore, the following changes in movement protocol are in effect (a) Movement restrictions have been lifted and live cloven-hoofed animals may be moved to other parts into other zones for slaughter and other purposes (rearing amongst others) with a veterinary permit…,” reads the release. MoA public relations officer in the North East District, Kelebogile Mosarwe, said the lifting of the embargo on the movement of animals signals that it is only a matter of time before the restocking exercise in Zone 6 (b) starts.

“Our team dedicated to the restocking exercise is busy winding up its work. This means that the restocking of livestock in Zone 6 (b) is just about to start. “Although I cannot give you the exact date of when the restocking exercise will commence, I can tell you that it will soon start,” said Mosarwe.

A farmer in Zone 6 (b), Pius Malikongwa, said the reinstatement of the FMD-free status of the zone is a positive development. “The easing of the movement of animals in the zone is a positive development. “We look forward to rearing livestock again in our zone for domestic and commercial purposes,” an ecstatic Malikongwa said.

According to a research paper titled, ‘The Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease on the Beef Industry in Botswana: The Case of Tonota Village’, challenges affect the beef industry in the country. The major problem is FMD and its expensive control and prevention measures. The impact of FMD in Botswana is unbearable to most rural households as they depend largely on cattle. The outbreak of FMD cripples their source of income and negatively impacts on their economic welfare.

The FMD outbreak is equally unbearable to people in the meat retailing industry.

A butchery owner in Area L in Francistown, Chicho Mhlasi, said since the outbreak of FMD in Zone 6 (b), his business incurred added costs because he had to buy cattle for slaughter from faraway locations unlike in the past when he used to get them nearer in the zone.

“The reinstatement of FMDfree status in Zone 6 (b) is a welcome development. Buying meat from other zones hit hard on my business finances because I incurred more fuel and transportation costs,” Mhlasi said. “Retailers in the meat industry suffered a lot because they also had no constant supply of cattle. I am very happy because there is light at the end of the tunnel.”