06 Sep 2023

 Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has urged youth to establish artificial insemination centres for profit making.

Addressing Khumaga residents on Tuesday, he said government had facilitated the establishment of such businesses by ensuring adequate supply of semen from high quality breeds.

He noted that government had procured high quality cattle breeds from the United States of America to develop the local herd.

Mr Tsogwane also urged the youth to register for artificial insemination training at the Ramatlabama AI centre. 

He said the training fee was P500 inclusive of accommodation and meals.

The youth, he said, could learn more about artificial insemination and establish insemination centres to assist farmers to develop their herd. 

He said the aim was to promote profitable livestock production and a knowledge-based economy. 

The benefits of artificial insemination, he said, were that the desirable characteristics of a bull could be passed on more quickly and to more progeny than mating in a natural fashion.

He also said artificial insemination enabled farmers to access quality genetics that would be too costly to buy as bulls. 

He noted that more than one bull could be used across the herd.

He said the Ramatlabama facility also offered a course on animal management.

On other issues, the Vice President said there were plans to establish a Meat Industry Regulatory Authority (MIRA) to address the monopoly enjoyed by Botswana Meat Commission.

He said the authority would ensure quality assurance and standardisation, price regulation, packaging and labelling among other things.

The MP also expressed concern that drug consumption amongst the youth was increasing at an alarming rate. 

He said there were some people pretending to be hawkers selling airtime whilst they were selling drugs. 

Mr Tsogwane advised parents to frequently search their children’s bedrooms for any suspicious substances.

Pupils, he said, were abusive to teachers and that they assaulted them under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

He also advised parents to work in partnership with the school management to address the issue. He said parents supported their children’s bad behaviour instead of cooperating with teachers.

The village development committee chairperson, Ms Kesebelwang Goratwamang called for the upgrade of the Khumaga Health Post to a clinic with a maternity wing. 

She also requested for the cyclic maintenance of Motopi Junior Secondary School. 

Ms Goratwamang also requested for an update on the construction of a bridge across  Boteti River.

The regional health coordinator, Ms Gasebotho Kedikilwe advised residents to use the Motopi Clinic. ends