31 Aug 2017

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Boipolelo Khumomatlhare says his ministry will soon review cattle branding and the Cruelty to Animal Act in an endeavour to address challenges of donkey identification and welfare.

Addressing the first donkey awareness workshop in Maun on August 29, Mr Khumomatlhare said the ministry was developing a donkey sub-sector strategy that would guide them on sustainable use of donkeys.

He said slaughtering of donkeys had been done in a cruel manner to harvest their hides while the carcasses was left to rot in the open causing environmental pollution.

Further, he said the harvesting of donkey hides was not done sustainably leading to the possible depletion of the resource, which resulted in the government suspending the slaughtering of donkeys for commercial purposes.

He also said government was worried about the indiscriminate and inhumane slaughtering of donkeys for their hides, as it threatened food security given that donkeys provided draught power, especially to farmers who were resource poor.

“I believe you will agree with me that donkeys play important roles in the rural economy such as transport, draught power as well as for their meat and milk, however, due to their high value hides there has been cruel handling of these animals,” he said.

He further urged stakeholders to share ideas on the form of identification for donkeys and encouraged attendees to report any form of cruelty on animals to the police and Department of Veterinary Services.

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, deputy permanent secretary, Dr John Moreki said the aim of the workshop was to provide a platform for experts, farmers and potential businessmen and women interested in the development of the donkey industry.

Dr Moreki noted that donkeys played important roles in the community since they performed difficult and complex tasks.

He further said one litre of donkey milk cost around P1 500 since it had low milk production, adding that donkey dung could be used to help a cow having difficulties during delivery.

He said research has showed that donkey milk was rich in vitamins C and D, iron, phosphorus, and that it had an anti-ageing agent.

He also noted that during wars, donkeys were used as transportation for wounded soldiers from the battlefield to medical centres.

Dr Moreki also estimated that 901 donkey hides could cost close to P7 million in Asian countries, and he urged Batswana to take the donkey industry seriously.

However, he said although donkeys were well taken care of in those countries, their numbers were declining because of the high utilisation of their hides which were used in medicines.

He advised stakeholders to take care of donkeys, adding that since last year donkeys have contributed to education since pupils were transported to schools in remote areas by donkey carts.

In his comment, Kgosi Kegaisamang Ramokwena of Boseja ward said Batswana lacked knowledge and understanding on donkey reproduction and production, urging responsible departments to educate people on good methods of rearing donkeys.

Kgosi Ramokwena commended the ministry for the workshop since it helped them know a lot of the things they never knew about donkeys. ENDS