12 Jul 2016

Ministry of Agriculture has no plans to establish an artificial insemination camp in the North East District, hence farmers being encouraged to practice on-farm artificial insemination

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, said this in response to a parliamentary question from Member of Parliament for Tati West, Mr Biggie Butale.

Mr Autlwetse said so far, 10 farmers in the North East District had taken up on-farm artificial insemination. 

Furthermore, he told Parliament that his ministry had extension experts who continued to train farmers on insemination techniques as well as provide guidance on the design of structures needed for storage of semen and handling of cattle. “The ministry keeps semen for various breeds of cattle which assist farmers to improve the quality of their livestock,” he said.

In addition, the assistant minister said, ‘the ministry provides training at Ramatlabama Centre for individuals who wish to embark on Artificial Insemination activities in their farms’.

The Tati West legislators had asked the minister to state when an Artificial Insemination camp would be set up in the North East District to enable the residents to improve the quality of their livestock. ENDS