06 Mar 2022

Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni has asked government to construct an Artificial Insemination centre in the Chobe District.

Debating the 2022/2023 financial year budget proposal for the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security on Thursday, Mr Shamukuni said Chobe was the only district without such a centre.

“Farmers in Chobe have desire to improve the quality of livestock in the district. Because of Chobe being a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) red zone the quality of livestock has gone down in the area,” he said.

Mr Shamukuni therefore said the district needed an artificial insemination centre to improve quality of its cattle.

“We have a local market in Chobe that our beef farmers service. They want to have an artificial insemination centre because bulls bought from other areas sometimes struggle to adapt to conditions in the district,” he said.

Mr Shamukuni further asked government to improve road infrastructure in agriculture production areas in Chobe west.

He also said the Zambezi Integrated Agro Commercial Project, which was mooted almost 20 years ago, should be sped up.

He said the project if implemented, would transform the Chobe economy and the food production in the country.

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks thanked the agriculture ministry for the provision of about P5.7 million for development of a community farm for Bray.

Mr Brooks said a borehole was already drilled on the farm.

He suggested that money made from taxation on the agriculture industry should be used to develop roads and other facilities in agriculture production areas.

Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang asked the ministry to operationalise the Sefhare Service Centre.

He said the facility had turned into a white elephant.

Responding to some of the issues raised by MPs, Agricultural Development and Food Security Minister Karabo Gare said the ministry had noted the request for construction of an artificial insemination centre in Chobe.

He further said preparations were ongoing for implementation of the Zambezi agro project. Meanwhile, Parliament approved the proposed budget estimates of over P2.4 billion requested by the ministry for the 2022/2023 financial year to cover its recurrent expenditure at about P1.4 billion and development budget at P959 million. Ends