25 Sep 2018

The Department of Veterinary Services is developing a new Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS) which will become operational next month. 

Addressing the Kgatleng District Council in Mochudi on September 24, council chairperson Mr Mpho Morolong said the veterinary office, in conjunction with appointed BAITS agents, would be available to assist farmers with the new system. 

The system, he explained, made it possible to perform transactions online instead of queuing up at offices. He told the full council meeting that all locations where cattle were kept were to be registered, and that extension agents were expected to conduct regular visits to assist farmers with all aspects of cattle traceability. 

“The implementation of the regulation will be an ongoing process until all kraals are registered. Farmers are to liaise with their extension officers for more information,” he said. 

Mr Morolong said the programme was also going to be used as a platform to increase extension outreach in order to enhance commercialisation of livestock farming as well as to spread the message of measles control and usage of antibiotics. 

The chairperson further said anthrax and quarter evil vaccines were available, and urged farmers to vaccinate their herds against the diseases. 

About rabies control, Mr Morolong informed the meeting that vaccination against the disease was ongoing throughout the district and encouraged people to bring their dogs to be vaccinated. 

He also reminded councillors of the August 16 official launch of the national measles strategy at Dibete. 

Mr Morolong said extension outreach and farmer education would be intensified as part of the marketing drive to get farmers to access the export market. 

On other issues, he said farmers continued to receive drought power support through ISPAAD, and that to date 3 317 farmers had been paid over P13 million for ploughing and planting 11 826.81 hectares. 

The council chairperson said since the beginning of the 2018/19 financial year, 87 applications were received and that all of them had been approved. However, he said only 32 were able to pay the 50 per cent contribution and that they were supplied with fencing materials. He said to date government had paid over P216 000 as her contribution towards the ISPAAD fencing component. 

Mr Morolong said since inception 91 applications had been received under the ISPAAD Horticultural Support Programme with 73 approved, but only 49 able to pay either the 40 per cent or 60 per cent contribution. ENDS