The aim of the arrangement was to take stock of what has been achieved to date since the last review in 2012 and then to align it with current scientific knowledge and international best practices as espoused in the standards provided by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). This will form the basis of managing the Foot and Mouth Disease over the short, medium and long-term perspectives. Officials from the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security (MoA) welcomed new measures to strengthen FMD controls and highlighted the beef sector’s importance to the economy with regards to rural income along with export potential. “I am very pleased to see the European Union Economic Partnership Agreement Support Programme supporting the review of the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy, which was last reviewed in 2012.
I am most grateful to the Department of Veterinary Services for setting this very important process in motion,” said Director for Department of International Trade, Lesedi Kgotlele. “The livestock sector is important to the economy of this country both in terms of exports and the rural livelihoods. The beef sector in particular has suffered major setbacks due to FMD outbreaks particularly in the red zones. Any measures therefore, to strengthen FMD controls in Botswana are most welcome as they will contribute to the viability of the sector and allow for increased internal trade as well as exports from both our green and red zones.” An esteemed panel of nine key experts drawn from the DVS, the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) as well as the OIE gathered in Gaborone for the proceedings and will map out the framework for developing this strategy.
