Botswana’s beef industry is seeking answers as the closure of the Botswana Meat Commission’s (BMC) Lobatse abattoir stretches into months following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), deepening concerns over farmer incomes, export earnings and economic activity in the country’s livestock heartland.
The Botswana National Beef Producers Union (BNBPU) says it will use a national council meeting next week to demand clarity from government, veterinary authorities and BMC on the extent of the outbreak, containment measures and the likely timeline for reopening the plant.
BNBPU spokesperson Andrew Seeletso said farmers are increasingly anxious as movement restrictions and the prolonged shutdown disrupt cattle sales and cash flows.
‘The disease appears to be spreading, which is worrying because it has serious economic consequences for farmers,’ Seeletso told Sunday Standard. ‘We need a clear picture of what is happening and what the way forward looks like.’
The meeting will bring together farmers, BMC officials, the Department of Veterinary Services and Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti.
The concerns come as Lobatse Mayor Mosimanegape Ganakgomo warned that the BMC plant could remain closed for between three and six months. He said the shutdown was placing financial pressure on the commission while hurting economic activity in the town and surrounding communities that depend on the beef value chain.
The latest outbreak has spread into Zone 11 along Botswana’s southern livestock corridor bordering South Africa, an area not traditionally associated with the highest FMD risk. Veterinary authorities have imposed movement restrictions on cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, while the slaughter of cloven-hoofed animals at social events has also been suspended.
The outbreak has already resulted in the suspension of FMD-free status in affected areas, dealing a fresh blow to Botswana’s premium beef export trade and raising fears of prolonged disruption if containment efforts fail.