Government Deploys Drones For FMD Survelliance

Government has deployed drones to carryout Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) surveillance along the 182 kilometre FMD double cordon fence in Good Hope District. The system, which started operations at Phihetshwane in Good Hope on Tuesday, is automated to collect real time data used by veterinary services to monitor the situation. Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Phitshane Molopo addressed by the Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said government would also continue to strengthen prevention and control measures in the fight against FMD outbreak through construction and maintenance of cordon fences.

He encouraged residents to refrain from vandalising the fences adding that biosecurity measures which included kraaling were essential for controlling the spreading of FMD and protecting livestock. For his part, Mr Gaolathe said it was critical for everyone to unite in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease, particularly during this period of strict budgetary limitations. He said Botswana’s import cover which used to comfortably address emergency situations including FMD crisis in the past had seen a decline over the years.

In the past, the country’s foreign reserves were sufficient to cushion it against external shocks for up to one and half years, but they have since declined, largely due to trade deficit driven by the underperformance of the diamond sector, he explained. Mr Gaolathe who is also Minister of Finance said Botswana was endowed with the necessary human resource capital, and mineral resources to be able to resuscitate the economy and bring it back to its hay days. He said government was working under tight fiscal constraints as such it was critical for the people to stand and be self-reliant, be resilient in the phase of adversity.

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Mr Gaolathe said Government could not do it alone highlighting that it was the responsibility of every citizen, civil society, local communities, business community, farmers, youth, and experts to join in. It is against this backdrop that the vice president said collaborative efforts was essential for addressing the current economic challenges, as well as preventing the outbreak of FMD in green zones. Adopting this approach, he noted would reshape governance structures to be more networked and adaptive, allowing for more community participation in shaping outcomes.

He emphasised that to achieve high impact results, the spirit of volunteerism was critical and thus appreciated members of the community who had volunteered to fight FMD outbreak. Additionally, he said it was critical for the community to unite with government in the fight against outbreak of FMD to protect the beef industry, cautioning that FMD outbreak risked Botswana’s reputation as a reliable beef exporter, especially to premium international markets. He said should there be any FMD outbreak in green zones Botswana stood to lose grip of the lucrative market share, adding that the beef sector contributed significantly to Botswana’s Gross Domestic Product. Mr Gaolathe emphasised that it was therefore pertinent for Botswana to protect its reputation by ensuring transparency in the fight against FMD to protect its market .He encouraged the Phitshane Molopo community and the periphery to do the same.

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