New FMD outbreak could further cripple beef industry

Still smarting from a confirmed outbreak of FMD reported on May 5 in the Matsiloje area, which is in the neighbouring veterinary disease control Zone Six, news that Zone Seven has recorded a recurrence of FMD has shocked peasant farmers.

However, veterinary disease control zones six and seven seem to be haunted in that in 2002 and 2003 Zone Six was hit by FMD outbreaks, forcing government to spend about P19 million in compensation, restocking and logistical operations. Veterinary disease control Zone Seven, which is predominantly in the Bobirwa/Mmadinare area, was recently declared FMD-free after a successful campaign to contain the disease. This followed an outbreak of FMD in 2006 in the area, which shares the border with neighbouring Zimbabwe. From 2006, the Bobirwa/Mmadinare area was excluded from the lucrative European Union (EU) markets. When it was finally allowed to sell to the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) abattoir in Francistown, it could only sell to the non-EU areas.