Africa-Press – Botswana. Ministry of Agriculture has embarked on a campaign to teach farmers in the Okavango region how to manage bont tick.
Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao made the announcement during his visits to crutches in Danega/Nokaneng and Tubu last week to appreciate the bont tick situation and challenge.
Mr Molao said the ministry had dispatched teams to demonstrate how to dip animals against bont tick and to administer treatment for senkobo (dermatophylosis), an animal skin disease caused by bont tick.
Mr Molao said his ministry saw the need to educate farmers on how to administer bont tick chemicals properly and that farmers would be expected to implement such after acquiring knowledge.
He said the campaign was bearing fruit as some livestock affected by bont tick and senkobo were recovering.
The ministry, he said, was considering increasing the teams to cover affected areas in the Okavango area at a fast speed.
Mr Molao also said farmers complained about the high cost of the chemicals and that his ministry was in dialogue with relevant retailers to reduce prices.
“We are also considering establishing community dipping tanks through partnership of farmers, the ministry and other stakeholders to be managed by communities,” he said.
The minister also appealed to farmers to dip and treat senkobo when necessary.
Principal veterinary officer in Shakawe, Mr Emmanuel Ramokwena said for senkobo treatment, farmers should estimate the weight of their livestock in order to administer the required amount of medicine and that for bont tick the most effective treatment was dip with oil, which lasts longer.
One farmer, Mr Bolokang Abele said his animals had been affected by bont tick since 2015 and that he lost about 30 cattle.
He appreciated the senitisation campaign, saying it would improve the farmers skills in administering dips and treating senkobo.
Another farmer, Mr Chabi Moteti said the sensitisation campaign was beneficial and expressed a wish that the workshop came earlier when bont tick was emerging.
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