SA team to inspect Maun BMC

rebamex via Wikimedia Commons - Sandveld, Botswana

Dr Modisa told councilors during a meeting that negotiations with South Africa started last week and a trip was proposed to inspect and ensure compliance of the abattoir on issues such as animal health control and audit.

He said the abattoir refurbishment was completed recently and urged all stakeholders to double efforts to ensure everything was in place before the inspection.

He said South Africa has been the sole buyer of Ngamiland beef and the export was stopped after the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. He cited one of the challenges as maintenance of quarantines but assured the House that maintenance would be carried out after the deal has been sealed.

Dr Modisa expressed happiness that some farmers recently toured the quarantines to assess their conditions and advised that some be maintained.

He also applauded his staff for a job well done noting that their efforts were visible in some buffalo fences. The House was also told that negotiations with other alternative beef markets were on-going.

Dr Modisa shared with the House about the up-coming seminar slated for Victoria Falls on 2-5 November where they would discuss several issues regarding trade and export of beef from districts. The seminar would attract different countries and decisions are expected to be made on how the district could access beef markets.

Dr Modisa also briefed councilors about the on-going strategic vaccination which was meant to mitigate the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). He said the exercise was meant to select very risky areas to vaccination and urged farmers to cooperate.

He stated that FMD was a notifiable disease which means only the director of veterinary must be the first one to be notified about any outbreak.

Source : BOPA