Africa-Press – Botswana. Reproductive diseases have played a big role in the decline of cattle population in Botswana and the Ministry of Agriculture ( MoA) has in place programmes to capacitate farmers against the challenge.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi said this when at a Breeding for Economic Growth and Sustainability public seminar organised by Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and First Capital recently.
He said the ministry had come up with interventions to transform the livestock sector. These included the use of modern technologies in livestock breeding, among others.
“The national artificial insemination lab in Ramatlabama has been upgraded into a centre of excellence for animal genetics,” he said.
He said they had also intensified surveillance of reproductive diseases to identify and treat them on time.
Furthermore, he said, they had established the Meat Regulatory Authority (MIRA), which would allow for full participation of key value chain players in the running of the beef industry, as well as bring about institutional and regulatory reforms to the livestock sector.
Mr Molebatsi said the ministry desired to increase the national herd of cattle, goats, and sheep to improve offtake for both local and export markets, as well as improve the quality of local breeds through the introduction of best genetics, both local and foreign.
He said that by so doing, they hoped farmers would be in a position to attract the right prices, in the right markets.
Mr Molebatsi said they also wanted to make Botswana products attractive for the export market.
Meat Production Specialist and Consultant from Argentina, Dr Julieta Madero said at the event, beef cattle production in tropical and sub-tropical regions was characterised by low input and extensive systems with pasture-based feeding with high levels of environmental variations.
Dr Madero said this led to challenges not normally associated with intensively fed animals or or those in places with grass all year around.
She advised the use of moderate-low to low-frame animals was desirable in environments with low pasture or where animals needed to be extensively fed. Dr Madero said smaller frame animals that produced less meat could be enhanced to produce more.
That would necessarily entail creating a genetic base for adaptive crossbreeds.
She said adaptation to new environments was highly transmissible, and it was wise to use use genetics that were already adapted to the specific climate for crossbreeding purposes.
First Capital Chief Executive Officer, Ms Reinette Van der Merwe urged participants to reflect on the importance of sustainable agriculture to Botswna’ economy.
She said her bank would continue to form partnerships towards exchanging knowledge and best practices needed to drive innovation and improve productivity in the agricultural sector. Such partnerships, she said, would work towards building a more sustainable and resilient livestock industry in Botswana and beyond.
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