17 Apr 2024

Botswana has made significant investments in its animal health system, incorporating zoning, animal traceability, and a robust veterinary public health system. 

This infrastructure has allowed Botswana to maintain access to valuable markets, including the European Union. 

Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao highlighted these achievements when welcoming a delegation from Uganda on a three-day official visit to Botswana.

Mr Molao emphasised Botswana’s suitability as a partner to Uganda, particularly in the livestock sector. 

He praised the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) for producing high-quality livestock vaccines, notably for diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) which are crucial for Botswana’s beef export industry.

Additionally, Mr Molao said  FMD vaccine produced by BVI had  played a vital role in controlling FMD in northern Botswana and has been utilised not only in Southern Africa but also in East and West Africa. He said the continuous advancements at BVI had expanded the range of vaccines available, covering diseases like Rinderpest, anthrax, black leg, cattle lung disease, goat plague, and a purified FMD vaccine, contributing significantly to livestock health in the region.

Since 1985, BVI has hosted the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) FMD reference laboratory for Africa. This laboratory. Minister Molao said  provided diagnostic services, supplies reagents, and offered  training. Thus Mr Molao welcomed Uganda to benefit from the facilities, emphasising the importance of collaboration in combating livestock diseases.

Another notable achievments in agriculture sector was Botswana’s National Agricultural Research and Development Institute, (NARDI) which  has consolidated research resources, including the National Veterinary Laboratory. Mr Molao said NARDI was a world reference laboratory in Africa accredited by the World Organization for Animal Health and played a key role in disease diagnostics, surveillance, and food technology research.

In advancing the livestock sector,  Minister Molao said Botswana had adopted Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs), importing genetic material to enhance animal genetics and increase livestock numbers. 

The government is also upgrading the National Artificial Insemination Centre to support its vision of becoming a hub for the livestock industry, he said

In terms of international collaboration, Botswana and Uganda are strengthening their partnership through a new draft MoU that covers various agricultural subsectors beyond just transboundary livestock diseases. This updated framework aims to foster cooperation in livestock, crops, aquaculture, and apiculture, highlighting the commitment to mutual growth and prosperity between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Mr Rwamirama said Uganda had 14 million cattle, 17 million goats, 5 million sheep, 8 million pork, and around 60 million poultry. 

Mr Rwamirama said the history of both countries was in animal production system, citing that since 2014 Uganda had been importing vaccines from Botswana, though the arrangement collapsed around 2016. 

He said the meeting would revive the two countries’ relationship which dates back to early 1970s, adding that African countries must work together to achieve food security. Ends