Farmers in Ngamiland have been informed that the opportunity for Zone 2e—specifically the Hainaveld farms—to become a “green zone” is being sabotaged by low cattle tagging and registration rates.
This was revealed by North West District Principal Veterinary Officer, Dr. Bruce Mafonko, during a farmers’ consultative meeting with district leadership in Maun this week.
Dr. Mafonko indicated that the district has gone almost eight years without a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, placing it at a lower risk. He highlighted that Zone 6b in the North East District has experienced more frequent outbreaks compared to Zone 2e.
However, the Principal Veterinary Officer noted that the primary problem is that tagging rates among Zone 2e farmers remain low.
“If we can increase the tagging rate in Zone 2e and prove that we are at a lesser risk of contracting FMD, I don’t think the Director can refuse for that area to be turned green,” Dr. Mafonko advised.
He stated that the Botswana Animal Identification and Traceability System (BAITS-3) is a crucial platform that Ngamiland farmers can utilize to gain greater access to high-value beef markets.
The platform is designed for livestock keepers to register animals, record movements, track ownership, and report health treatments. It streamlines data collection for cattle, including ear tagging and location tracking, to enhance safety and meet export requirements.
“The problem is that the farmers in Hainaveld are not working together. You need to join forces and push the issue of BAITS-3, which is farmer-centric. It is extremely important,” stressed Dr. Mafonko, emphasizing that the platform puts power back into the hands of the farmer.
Responding to farmers regarding the poor condition of the veterinary cordon fence, Dr. Mafonko cited budgetary constraints, a lack of resources, and an increased wildlife population.
“In past years, many technical officers were deployed for fence maintenance, but that is no longer the case. That arrangement allowed for much closer supervision,” he highlighted.
He added that the FMD unit in Maun currently remains an office without resources. Farmers questioned why the unit is no longer fully operational, lamenting that it previously played a crucial role in controlling FMD in the district.
Among other tasks, the unit was intended to maintain the status of FMD-free zones, minimize outbreak risks in vaccination zones, and expand free zones where possible.
However, Dr. Mafonko revealed that efforts are underway to rehabilitate buffer fences in the next financial year. After profiling the fences last year, the department is now proposing a budget to their parent ministry to begin maintenance, though he noted this would only be possible to a certain extent.
He also revealed plans to seek collaboration from farmers and the private sector, noting they have already solicited a partner to electrify part of the Phefodiafoka fence.
Meanwhile, farmers in the North West District are planning to host a ‘Pitso’ in Maun on March 31, 2026, to deliberate on critical challenges affecting the farming community.
The Pitso aims to provide a platform for farmers to dialogue on practical solutions to challenges—including rising cases of stock theft, human-wildlife conflict, and the damaged veterinary cordon fence—and subsequently make recommendations to the government.
