08 Mar 2018

Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security will consider the request by Ngamiland farmers to be represented in the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) board.

Minister Patrick Ralotsia told a district leadership meeting he was addressing in Maun on Tuesday

Responding to challenges raised by the farmers, he said the request would be considered once the current BMC board membership expires.

The North West Integrated Farmers Association chairperson, Mr Mokadi Masedi had stated that their district was faced with peculiar challenges, therefore would be advisable if they had a representative in the BMC board who was acquainted with them.

Mr Ralotsia therefore observed that the North West region was faced with unique challenges from the rest of the country, especially livestock diseases.

He however said the membership of the BMC board would be a special dispensation since it was not determined by regional location.

Further, Mr Ralotsia also informed the North West farmers that the cabinet had heeded their request to give the Maun abattoir a special dispensation of maintaining its costs on an annual budget.

He said the move should motivate the livestock farmers to continue farming with hope of rewards.

Mr Ralotsia noted that the Maun abattoir was a special facility that helped the country to contain Foot and Mouth disease (FMD).

He encouraged North West farmers saying that they would experience positive results through cooperation with the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security.

The minister also advised the farmers to consider setting up an FMD fund to help government in FMD interventions, especially during outbreaks.

Mr Masedi had relayed livestock farmers’ challenges and desired interventions such as a representative in BMC board.

Mr Masedi also said the farmers would appreciate if government had an existing budget specifically for the FMD outbreak interventions and other logistics.

He also said Maun farmers appreciated government’s move to revive quarantines, but complained that some quarantines were in a poor state.

Mr Masedi further said communication channels between the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, relevant stakeholders and farmers should be improved.ENDS