Molao was giving an update on the status of the disease in the Zone 6b Bisoli North (Tsamaya, Mowana, Senyawe, Butale, Ramokgwebana and Jackalas) area in North East.
The area recently experienced an outbreak which has resulted in a target to cull 10,000 cattle, as a mitigating strategy. The government has often been accused of doing little to prevent the persistent outbreak of FMD in the whole of North East.
“In order to prevent the recurrence of the disease, additional funds will be provided this financial year towards the prevention of spillover of FMD from neighbouring countries,” he said on Thursday, without giving details on the figures.
However, under the recurrent budget for 2023-24, the ministry plans to spend nearly P31 million on FMD control, while another P30 million has been set aside under the development budget. Following the outbreak in 6b, Molao said the ministry also embarked on rehabilitation of the Botswana/Zimbabwe border cordon fence from Magwape to Dikgatlhong.
He said 145 kilometres of the fence has been repaired. He added that Botswana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zimbabwe to cooperate on agriculture and food security as well as joint control of animal diseases and cattle rustling.
The constant FMD outbreak in the North East has been largely attributed to cattle rustling between Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well the porous border fence. Some farmers believe that the porous borders fence result in unregulated movement of humans and animals between the two countries which they say exposes the two countries to frequent FMD outbreaks.
In his address, Molao also told Parliament that government has so far made cash payments amounting to P1.7 million to 241 farmers in the 6b area as compensation for their cattle which the government decided to cull in a bid to eradicate FMD in the area.
The funds were for 2,229 cattle. The culling of cattle will end in June and will be followed by a restocking exercise. Government set the compensation of cattle at P3,000 per beast, with farmers getting the first 10 cattle in kind and the balance being paid at a ratio of 30% cattle and 70% cash. Government also took a decision that farmers should be paid the proceeds for their cattle slaughtered at the Maun BMC and the meat being sold.
Government is expected to spend more in compensation as over 10,000 cattle will be collected from farmers in Zone 6b, Bisoli North. A total of 4,670 cattle has been collected from 492 from farmers and of that figure, 3,458 have already been sent for slaughter at the Maun BMC abattoir.
