06 Jul 2014

Parliament has been informed that the Direct Cattle Purchase Scheme (DCP) is an initiative by which Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) goes into the field to buy cattle from farmers on live weight basis at their villages and farms.

Responding to a parliamentary question on Thursday July 3, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi said buying covered all categories of cattle, males and females of different ages with weights from 160kg and above.

“After the buying of cattle, the farmer is issued with a 3 day post-dated money voucher which the farmer has the choice to be paid through Botswana Post or Bank Gaborone,” said Mr Molebatsi.
 Further, the Minister noted that once the cattle were purchased, all risk for the cattle pass on to BMC, while these animals are then sent to feedlots. He also said the scheme was ongoing both in the southern and northern areas of Botswana where there are no movement restrictions.

On why the scheme operated differently in the Nata/Gweta constituency, Mr Molebatsi said the ministry was currently not conducting DCP programs in the Nata/Gweta area (zone 3b) because of the necessary veterinary movement restrictions. He said movement from the zone was only through quarantines, therefore farmers sold to BMC through Dukwi and Odiakwe quarantines.

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Rayner Makosha had asked the minister to give a brief on the BMC Direct Cattle Purchase Scheme.

The Minister had also to state why the scheme operated differently when it came to Nata/Gweta constituency especially at the Odiakwe Quarantine. ENDS