Along with South Africa and Namibia, Botswana is one of the main exporters of beef to the European Union, where it enjoys duty-free and quota-free access and where it has seen its revenues d drop from $130 million in 2010 to $20 million in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, central bank statistics show.
“Farmers are informed that a movement restriction for all cloven-hoofed animals has been imposed due to suspected cases of Foot and Mouth Disease in the North Eastern District,” said Kefentse Motshegwa, Acting Director of Veterinary Services, adding that exports of fresh meat and raw animal products have been suspended.
“Restriction of movement facilitates disease investigation and will be lifted once investigations are completed,” Motshegwa added.
Botswana, which is the size of France, has seen its cattle herd drop to 2 million head, from 3.1 million 10 years ago, due to persistent droughts and epidemics.
Besides the EU, Botswana exports beef and live cattle to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, which has also had to deal with sporadic outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.