The disease, which was detected last month, has disrupted the country’s access to lucrative European Union (EU) markets, which it had long enjoyed under the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). This quota-free and duty-free arrangement has been a cornerstone of Botswana’s beef export industry, making the current situation particularly severe. Speaking on Thursday during the Foot and Mouth Pitso, Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti revealed that the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is now holding beef stock valued at no less than P202 million, which can no longer be exported to premium international markets due to the outbreak.
The financial implications extend beyond unsold stock, with the country also facing production losses, increased disease control costs, and broader socioeconomic challenges, he added. “In addition to the loss of access to premium markets, we are dealing with significant production declines and the high cost of controlling the disease, all while balancing other national priorities,” Dikoloti said. In a bid to strengthen the national response, government has established National FMD Command Centre, also referred to as the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), under the leadership of the Office of the President. The centre is tasked with ensuring high-level coordination of all FMD control activities. At a local level, district FMD command centres have also been set up in areas bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe to enhance rapid response and monitoring. Dikoloti said unlike in the past, when government solely funded disease prevention and control efforts, current financial constraints have necessitated a shift in approach. Authorities are now promoting community-led and private sector-supported disease prevention programmes, which are seen as more cost-effective and sustainable in the long term.
