The Ministry of Local Government instructed councils in June 2026 to register households affected by foot-and-mouth disease so relief measures can be properly targeted.
Section
Farming
Public Works Meet Biosecurity: Ikageng Workers Reinforce FMD Fences
About 1,050 Ikageng workers were deployed to Ramotswa, Good Hope and Tsabong in June 2026 to erect fences and clear bush lines against foot-and-mouth disease.
New FMD Outbreak Tests Botswana’s Biosecurity Systems
Veterinary officers confirmed foot-and-mouth disease on four farms in Zone 13 in May 2026 and launched mass vaccination, putting Botswana’s beef exports at risk.
Fenced Frontier: How Botswana and South Africa Sync FMD Control to 2028
Botswana and South Africa adopted a 2026-2028 plan for cross-border vaccination, fence upkeep and a stock-theft task force to hold foot-and-mouth disease in check.
Biosecurity Breaches Trigger FMD Crisis and Abattoir Shutdown
The April 2026 FMD outbreak at the Ramatlabama AI centre likely came from contaminated clothing or equipment; BMC abattoirs shut after slaughtering 12,291 cattle for the EU market.
From Subsistence to Enterprise: Agriculture Pushes for GDP Crown
At Masama Market in April 2026, Assistant Minister Baratiwa Mathoothe urged farmers to form cooperatives, lease unused land and embrace agro-processing to make agriculture the top GDP contributor.
Compliance Is Key: EU Beef Market Hinges on FMD Control
Acting agriculture minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti told farmers that strict foot-and-mouth compliance could restore green status in 3 to 6 months, protecting the EU premium beef market.
Small Butcheries Caught in the Foot-and-Mouth Crossfire
Kgalagadi butchery owners warn that prolonged foot-and-mouth slaughter bans could ruin their businesses, and are calling for swift resolution.
From Egg to Market: The Business Timelines of Southern Africa’s Poultry Sector
For the poultry farmer, the clock starts not when the bird leaves the shell, but when the egg first feels the warmth of incubation. The length of that journey - 16 days for a quail, 46 days for an ostrich - can determine how quickly capital returns, how often the...