04 Dec 2016

Ngamiland farmers have been urged to join hands with government and complement its continued efforts to improve the agricultural sector.

The chairperson of Ngamiland Agricultural Management Association, Mr Hureva Tjavanga said they should understand that as farmers, their role in the development of the sector was of paramount importance as the economy of the majority of the households was dependent upon agriculture especially the beef industry.

He made the plea during the Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS) awareness campaign road show themed Ke Tlhoka Lenyena go ya Thekisong.

The purpose of the campaign was to bring awareness to the Ngamiland farming community on the importance of ear tagging cattle.

He urged them to take the Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS) initiative seriously as it was for their own benefit and could be key to international markets despite the challenges they faced in the district.

“As much as we should take Foot and Mouth Disease control measures seriously, ear tagging of our cattle should also be a priority amongst us farmers,” he added.

Mr Tjavanga said they should appreciate that government had taken a stance to rollout the first ear tags for free under Economic Stimulus Programme particularly for Ngamiland district hence the need to take advantage of the noble gesture to put more effort and ear tag all their cattle.

In the ear tag exercise, he said their role was to collect the ear tags and the department of Veterinary Services and transport tagging agents to their crushes adding that they should note that in other districts, farmers buy ear tags.

Farmers were informed that to access better lucrative beef market for Ngamiland, they need to take heed of all the advice given by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security.

Furthermore, they heard that the international markets require traceability hence BAITS is the only way forward for the economy of the district to have meaningful growth.

For his part, the district agricultural coordinator, Mr Obert Mabutha decried the slow uptake of BAITS by farmers, noting that up todate 185 085 ear tags had been issued to 5 225 farmers and only 44 438 ear tags had been uploaded.

He believed that the campaign would make a difference and that the farmers would appreciate that other countries have succeeded and continued to succeed in implementing traceability with farmers being at the forefront.

He also informed farmers that the Veterinary Services would now play a predominantly regulatory role in the implementation of BAITS.

He also announced that the district is now issuing out livestock keeper cards to farmers.

Mr Mabutha said the BAITS system was essentially farmer centric; and allows farmers to carry out most of the non-regulatory operations with minimal involvement of government.

He informed the gathering that the essential step in any traceability system was to ensure that all cattle are uniquely identified.

The coordinator further revealed that his ministry had in the past not been able to achieve individual animal identification due to dwindling resources and hoped that with regard to massive farmer involvement the goal would be realised. ENDS