10 Nov 2020

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says through the Economic Recovery Transformation Plan, government will develop fodder banks in strategic locations for the cattle industry.

Dr Masisi said the biggest challenge besieging the dairy industry was shortage of production of dairy animal feeds locally.

Presenting State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Masisi said government through would assist smallholder dairy farmers to increase production capacities by providing them with an accelerated business subsidy and an interest free loan administered by National Development Bank (NDB).

President Masisi said the planned interventions were expected to grow the dairy industry by at least 18 per cent in the 24 months. He said clusters for fodder production in Molepolole, Lobatse, North East and Ngamiland will be promoted.

In addition, he said government would renovate and upgrade existing milk pasteurising centres in Tonota, Phitshane Molopo, Serowe and Sunnyside and outsource their management to farmers by March 2021.

Dr Masisi also said government was reviewing the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) with the intention of creating an efficient and sustainable programme.

“The reviewed programme will be launched during the course of 2021,” said Dr Masisi.

He said among its key elements would be de-bushing, shifting weight of the subsidy towards more outputs and realignment of fields to enable critical infrastructure developments such as digitisation, roads and water among others.

On issues of Bio Security, President Masisi said the Okavango region reported an outbreak of Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) in October 2020 in the Nxamasere extension and Xhakao. He said all the affected animals were vaccinated. Therefore, he has called on the communities in the Okavango region to continue taking the necessary measures to reduce the spread of FMD. Currently, Dr Masisi said government was working on relief measures as a matter of urgency to assist affected households in the Boteti and Ngami areas.

President further indicated that between February and June 2020 there was an invasion of locust in the Ngamiland, Boteti and Chobe districts which significantly damaged grazing land and crops. To date, Dr Masisi said 53 swarms have been identified of which 48 were controlled.

Furthermore, Dr Masisi said government has secured a market to supply goat and sheep meat in the Middle East and Europe.

He said modalities were underway to meet the market regulatory requirements in the targeted countries.

In order to comply with the traceability requirements of the market, Dr Masisi said all sheep and goats will be registered under the Botswana Animal Traceability System (BAITS).

He said farmers will be required to tag their goats and sheep with electronic ear tags as part of compliance.

He also said government has identified three export slaughter facilities for goats and sheep at the Botswana Meat Commission in Francistown, the Multi species Abattoir of Botswana in Gaborone and the Meat Inspection Training Institute abattoir in Lobatse.

As part of improving small stock production at farm level, President Masisi said government has rejuvenated Lobu Farm in the Kgalagadi District where stud and commercial stock of goats and sheep were bred and sold to farmers to improve genetics of their animals.

“The Lobu Farm concept is being replicated at Impala Rural Training Centre in Francistown to cater for farmers in the northern part of the country,” he said.

President Masisi added that of recent, he has embarked on an initiative to promote small stock production in the country with view of growing the sector and turning it into one of the key drivers’ of the economy.

Dr Masisi further said the National Policy on Agricultural Development was under review and will be tabled during the current sitting of Parliament with the view to address emerging challenges and create jobs for young people and ultimately making agriculture more inclusive and attractive.

In relation to Beef Cluster Development, President Masisi said the beef industry has been besieged with challenges over time and the situation has affected the various stakeholders within the industry.

However, Dr Masisi said government was committed to reviving the beef industry. ENDS