National agric show cancelled for livestock fever

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Friday July 16, 2010 00:00

In an interview with Mmegi yesterday, Boikhutso Rabasha of the public relations unit of the Ministry of Agriculture said if the show was held, it would attract livestock from all over of the country and thus perpetuate the spread of the diseases. 

'Rift Valley Fever is spread from one animal to another through mosquito bites,' Rabasha said. 'The show has been cancelled because we want to contain the disease.'

She said she hoped nothing would prevent the show from taking place next year. 'After August, we approach the ploughing season,' she said. 'Therefore, we cannot have an agriculture-based show until next year.'

Rabasha told Mmegi that the government had not incurred any losses by cancelling the show. However, she acknowledged that some farmers stood to suffer losses since they had invested in their livestock. 

'Farmers who have been feeding their livestock to prepare for this show will suffer losses,' she said.

Several district agricultural shows have also been affected by the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever. 'I can tell you that if they are not completely cancelled, shows in Goodhope, Mochudi and Ramotswa will be held without livestock,' Rabasha said. 'Only poultry will be allowed because it is not affected by this disease.'