04 Sep 2017

Deputy permanent secretary (DPS) in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Dr John Moreki has criticised Batswana for not seeing the value of the donkey. 

He said this during a donkey awareness workshop in Francistown on Thursday where he addressed stakeholders.

Dr Moreki acknowledged that with the recent cases of illegal exportation of the highly priced donkey skin to Asian countries and the ill-treatment and slaughtering of donkeys, the ministry saw it necessary to hold workshops to enlighten farmers and Batswana on the value of the donkey.

He explained that Batswana are being ripped off by foreign nationals who buy donkeys from them at low prices and resell them for millions, adding that because the ministry realised that Batswana do not benefit from these dealings, a decision to stop the slaughtering of donkeys for meat was made in July.

The DPS said despite the fact that donkeys provide a key source of power, they remain absent from food security and agriculture interventions, adding that the ministry is working on bettering the current situation.

Amongst the many uses of the donkey, Dr Moreki said they could be used as a reliable mode of transport, draught power, food (meat and milk), and dung as a fertilizer, livestock guardian, as well as cosmetics.

Dr Moreki added that from the year 2004 to 2016, there had been a yearly decrease of its population by 18 000, indicating that the decrease could be due to poor management practices, frequent drought, vehicular accidents, predation, sale of donkeys to feed predators.

Meanwhile, the director of Animal Health and Production, Dr Philemon Motsu said even though the donkey generally takes care of its self, its nutrition was of high importance and its farmers and owners should ensure their donkeys eat three to four percent of its body weight. 

He further added that ‘it is the responsibility of owners to ensure availability of food, water and shelter amongst others.’

Addressing public health issues that come with rearing donkeys, the principal veterinary officer Dr Siema Dijeng from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said the most common diseases found in donkeys that could affect humans included rabies, glandes and salmonella, adding that the diseases could be contracted through handling them. ENDS