11 Jul 2017

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele has informed Ntlo Ya Dikgosi that the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security does not have the mandate to construct fences along the road reserves to control livestock movement. 

Answering a question on behalf of agriculture minister, he said construction of fences was the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

He noted that over the years government has erected cordon fences as a physical barrier between adjacent veterinary disease control zones to prevent uncontrolled movement of animals between animals of different health status.

Kgosi Rapelang Khuwe of Tutume region had asked the Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security if he would consider erecting a cordon fence along the A3 (Francistown-Maun) road in order to control livestock movement.

Mr Madigele also informed Ntlo Ya Dikgosi that there was no consideration by the agriculture ministry to use part of Lobu farm in Middlepits/Khuis as an artificial insemination camp in Kgalagadi because the camp was presently used for small stock multiplication purposes to supply communities with breeding stock.

He added that government would no longer construct new artificial insemination camps due to their high running and maintenance costs and limited capacity.

Kgosi David Toto II had wanted to know if the ministry does not consider it opportune to use part of Lobu farm in Middlepits/Khuis as an artificial insemination camp in Kgalagadi South to bring services closer to farmers. ENDs