01 Apr 2013

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi has recommended that farmers should take up individual small stock identification system.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Molebatsi said the ministry would be available for any technical advice.

He said livestock in general was a concern in communities and therefore advised farmers to intensify kraaling and caring for their livestock.

“Note that Livestock Identification and Trace back System (LITS) for cattle is not control of stock theft, but to meet market requirements,” he added.

The purchasing of livestock for government programmes such as Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development and Poverty Eradication, Mr Molebatsi said was done at public places such as the kgotla in the presence of police officers who verified that small stock belonged to the supplier by checking all relevant documents, such as Omang.

“The current system of selling at kgotla in the presence of the police is therefore considered adequate,” he added.

Shoshong MP, Mr Phillip Makgalemele wanted to know whether given the alarming small stock theft in Botswana, the minister would consider developing an identification system similar to the one used for the cattle industry.

Mr Makgalemele also wanted the minister to state measures he would put in place to protect small stock owners against their concerns that some of their stock was stolen and sold to programmes such as Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development and Poverty Eradication. ENDS