14 Feb 2023

Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi has told Parliament that Kgomokgwana quarantine camp is expected to be opened for use by farmers mid-June.

Mr Molebatsi said this answering a question in Parliament on Monday.

He indicated that the Department of Animal Production had started the process of gradually privatising the existing government Artificial Insemination (AI) camps.

“Currently, the Department of Animal Production has no plans to establish new government AI camps in the country,” he said.

He added that in pursuit of process efficiencies in the artificial insemination value chain, farmers were encouraged to adopt the use of the on-farm AI programmes, get the AI services from the privatised AI camps as well as consider setting up community-run AI camps modelled after Phanyane AI camp in the Southern District and Masama AI Camp in the Kgatleng District.

Mr Molebatsi also told Parliament that there was no plan to hold a farmers’ day in the Okavango region in the current planning period.

“Efforts will be made in the upcoming planning period (2023/2024) to identify model farmers who can host farmers day sessions,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga had asked the minister to give an update on progress made to resuscitate the Kgomokgwana Quarantine Camp and confirm the exact or approximate date when the quarantine would be opened for use by farmers.

Mr Kapinga also wanted to know when artificial insemination would become accessible to farmers in the Okavango Constituency and if there was any intention to convene a farmers’ day in the area and when. ENDS