Botswana's karakul renaissance - Ministry of Agriculture

DIBETE OSTRICH MULTIPLICATION
UNIT A VIABLE PROJECT
Article: Epena Ngatangue
The viability of the Dibete Ostrich
Multiplication Unit (DOMU) is dependent
on the operation of the ostrich abattoir,
says the Deputy Director of Animal
Production in the Ministry of Agriculture
Dr. John Moreki.
Speaking in an interview Dr. Moreki
said its viability is also dependent on the
willingness of the Citizen Entreprenuael
Development Agency (CEDA) to finance
ostrich projects, noting that DOMU
has been affected by the closure of the
abattoir as it has some birds which could
have been slaughtered in the last quarter
of 2009.
Dr. Moreki said DOMU which is being run
by the Department of Animal Production
has 660 breeders which are considered to
be adequate to support the project. In all
there are 1433 birds (660 breeders, 415
juveniles and 358 chicks) on the farm.
DOMU comprises four blocks, three of
which are currently occupied while the
fourth is under construction. DOMU
produces hatching eggs that are hatched
at Goldiggers (Talana farms) in the
Tuli Block. According to Dr. Moreki
an agreement was reached last year
between government and Goldiggers for
Goldiggers to provide hatching service for
government on chick sharing basis.
According to the agreement, government
takes 60 % of the chicks hatched while
Goldiggers gets 40 %. Birds are raised in
Talana Farms up to five days and thereafter
transferred to Dibete. Birds from DOMU
are available to farmers to buy.
Dr. Moreki says government also
provides funds to young farmers to set
up businesses including ostrich farming
through Young Farmers Fund (YFF).
On how ostrich farming could improve
profitability, Dr. Moreki said there is an
urgent need to promote consumption
of ostrich meat locally as dependency
on export market does not seem to be
profitable given the low number of birds
that are slaughtered.
He also said there is need to have farmers
that concentrate only in growing and/or
fattening, breeding and hatching in the
future. “There is no doubt that vertical
integration and contract growing would
contribute enormously to increased
production,” he said.
Dr. Moreki came up with suggestions
which could improve ostrich farming
in the country such as subsiding ostrich
feeds. He said feed is the single largest
cost in ostrich production. He said feed
cost accounts for 70% to 80% of the
production costs.
He said regular maintenance of the
abattoir should guard against frequent
closures which have detrimental effects
on the performance of the ostrich
industry. “It is worth noting that such
closures affect meat and skin quality,” he
said.
Dr. Moreki also suggested that birds
should be reared within the vicinity of
the abattoir. He said new ostrich farms
should be cited no more than 100 km
from the abattoir to reduce transportation
costs.
He further suggested that training in
ostrich management should be intensified
to equip staff with recent technologies on
Dr. John Moreki
ostrich production. Government support
regarding laboratory technical services
should be strengthened, he said.
On the greatest achievements in
ostrich farming, Dr. Moreki cited the
establishment of ostrich abattoir and
DOMU. Currently DOMU produces
and sells chicks and growers/juveniles to
farmers at subsidized prices.
Other constraints in ostrich farming, Dr.
Moreki mentioned poor quality of feeds,
inadequate laboratory analytical services
as well as inadequate extension service.
Dr. Moreki said delay in allocation of
land for ostrich farming deter farmers
to venture into ostrich production. In
addition, the size of the plots allocated
that is usually inadequate to support the
venture.
On the long term benefits of DOMU,
Dr. Moreki cited provision of chicks
and growers/juveniles to farmers which
should contribute to the revival of the
industry through increased throughput as
well as transfer of technical skills to the
ostrich farmers
May 2010