Botswana's karakul renaissance - Ministry of Agriculture

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Boteti Sub District farmers BOTETI SUB DISTRICT FREE FROM FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE Article & Photos: Epena Ngatangue It was all ululation and merriment at a series of Kgotla meetings in the Boteti Sub District when the Minister of Agriculture Christiaan De Graaff announced that the area (zone 4A) has been approved as a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free without vaccination. “Today I am here to announce to you that zone 4A has been approved as an FMD free without vaccination zone; meaning that cattle and other cloven hoofed animals in this area are now of the same FMD status as those in the ‘green zone’, announced Minister De Graaff to a rapturous uproar from the crowd in Mopipi village. Minister De Graaff addressed Kgotla meetings in Mopipi, Xumo, Rakops and Kumaga. The Minister congratulated farmers and the Department of Veterinary Services as well as the general public for the their contribution towards the achievement while warning that maintaining the FMD free status will present many challenges especially given the FMD situation in neighbouring Ngamiland. De Graaff said the challenges would require serious commitment and vigilance otherwise the disease will be re-introduced into the district. “Therefore I wish to urge and encourage all of you to jealously guard against the introduction of vaccinated or exposed cattle from neighbouring districts such as Nata and Ngamiland as this might contribute to the introduction of FMD in this area,” he warned. Minister De Graaff said as part of a long term strategy to maintain the FMD free status of Zone 4A the ministry will assist the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism with the maintenance and patrol of the Makgadikgadi wildlife fence and upgrade the Phefodiafhoka- Shorobe cordon fence that separates Boteti from Ngamiland to a 2.4m high game proof fence. The ministry will also intensify active surveillance for foot and mouth disease within a 10km radius along the Phefodiafhoka- Shorobe Cordon Fence and Boteti River – that is create a surveillance zone. All crushes that fall within the surveillance zone will be monitored regularly. Minister De Graaff said the 10km surveillance zone and the flowing Boteti River have been identified as FMD high-risk areas because of their proximity to Ngamiland and the Park. The intensified surveillance will increase the chances of detecting FMD early, he said. “We shall also explore the possibility of creating a livestock free buffer zone between Ngamiland and Zone 4A,” he said. Minister De Graaff further said the declaration of Zone 4A as an FMD free zone has opened opportunities for beef from this area to access the European Union and other lucrative international markets. Farmers will also be able to take their livestock to other FMD free zones in the country. “Therefore, we are negotiating with our international trading partners for them to take beef products from this zone,” he said. The Minister further said the current movement controls would remain in place until negotiations have been concluded. For their part residents commended the ministry for making their area FMD free and appealed to the ministry to expedited negotiations with the European market. They promised the minister that they will do everything to maintain the FMD free status of their areas and called for vigorous monitoring of zonal brands. On other issues residents complained about the late distribution of seeds as well as shortage of tractors and vaccines in Livestock Advisory Centers (LAC). They also complained about irregular insertion of BOLUS. In Rakops one farmer said since their area has been saved from FMD, it is for them now to teach other farmers in FMD prone areas on how to successfully fight the disease. When responding to some of the complaints, Minister De Graaff warned tractor owners who overcharge farmers that they will be pushing them out of the market because they will be blacklisted in future. He said the prices for ploughing and planting have been well thought and researched as such found appropriate. Minister of Agriculture Christiaan De Graaff holding OIE certificate On shortage of vaccines at LACs, the minister said after encountering some hiccups, the Ministry has decided to buy vaccines directly from manufacturers a thing he said would improve vaccine distribution. On BOLUS, he said things have been normalized after a company to supply and maintain the system has been hired. Minister De Graaff further said LIMID has been reviewed and those elements, which have been found to be rewarding, have been maintained. On ISPAAD he said the programme would now cover horticulture. All in all it remains to be seen whether the ululation and merriment, which met Minister De Graaff, would translate to the sustainance of the green zone for the betterment of livelihood in that area. When saying a vote of thanks in all the meetings, the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Slumber Tsogwane congratulated the Minister for a job well done and encouraged him to do what he thinks is best for the country without fear or favour. He said politicians will say negative thinks about him personally but that should not deter him from performing to the fulliest May 2010
“We Can not Feed the Nation from Idle Land” -President Khama tells Agricultural Pitso The President Sertetse Khama Ian Khama says he is disturbed by the amount of agricultural land which is lying uncultivated yet the country imports over 60% of most agricultural products. been controlled if more effort was exerted. He said that due to this Government is committed to assist only those farmers who have shown commitment in managing their fields. Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo Speaking at the forum the Assistant Minister Oreeditse Molebatsi said in any endeavour they embark on Batswana should adopt the motto of “agriculture first,” noting that one hectare of arable land could turn into a viable agricultural business. President Seretse Khama Ian Khama (L) and Moeng Pheto “We can not feed the nation from idle land therefore we have to invest in agriculture and manage the farming businesses to maximise profits,” he said. Officially opening the Ministry of Agriculture Consultative forum {Pitso} , President Khama said his government has identified the agricultural sector as the main driver of poverty eradication , noting that the sector be supported to ensure people have enough food and even export surplus. The theme for the Pitso was “Rethinking Agricultural Development: Focusing on Breakthrough Areas.” President Khama said the theme was appropriate as it comes at a time when the government want to revive the agricultural sector to enable it to pla a meaningful role in the development of the economy. The breakthrogh areas are dairy, horticulture, cereal and smallstock as well as bee keeping.. These are farming enterprises the Ministry wants to make a significant impact on, in the short to medium term. He said the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development {ISPAAD} which was introduced in July 2008 resulted in over two fold in cereal yields noting that through ISPAAD more can still be achieved if farmers can rise to the occasion and be more committed. Khama however said they are some farmers who do not look after their ploughed fields and consequently attain low yields as a result of weeds and bird damage that could have “I therefore call upon all arable farmer organisations to assist government in weeding out non-farmers from the ISPAAD programme,” he said. He said efforts to reduce the amount of goods and services imported are already bearing fruit, noting that under this initiative schools bought for the first time, local agriculture produce such as watermelons and green mealies for school feeding programmes this season. The Ministry of Local Government bought thousands of tonnes of grain from the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board for its various feeding programmes. On dairy farming, President Khama said the government is aware of the high cost of inputs associated with establishment of a dairy enterprise and as such he encourageddairy entrepreneurs to grow fodder with assistance from ISPAAD to reduce the feed bill as it is feed which is critical to the sustance of the dairy business. For his part, the Minister of Agriculture Christiaan De Graaff said agriculture business is faced with challenges which may inhibt its growth and prosperity. He said the challenges are evident across the spectrum from primary production through processing and marketing all the way to the consumer. “It is important to note that these challenges are many and complex,” he said. De Graaff said the challenges vary from natural phenomenon such as climatic conditions to market related scenarios. Assistant Minister Molebatsi decried some dairy companies which have put their milk standards very high, higher than those of Bureau of Standards Such companies, he said rejects milk from local farmers. Molebatsi said ISPAAD has proved that Batswana can produce enough food to feed the nation. When presenting on bee production a bee farmer, Mr. Ontiretse Mochangana decried lack of support from government as well as inadequate market outlets. Another farmer from the Southern District Mr Odirile Patle emphasised the importance soil testing before one embarks in arable farming. Tshepo Masire a beef producer said that one Pitso is not enough for them. He urged farmers to always be closer to their agricultural business entity, noting that they can not be good farmers when they stay very far from their cattle posts. He said water shortage is a problem in many districts and urged the government supply water to farmers. Masire said that they are many cattle in the Ngwaketsi district but the problem is lack of infrastructure such as roads to supply to the BMC. For his part Mr. W Herbst, a dairy farmer said that they have a problem with milk by products adding that they are no processors who can assist them package and produce many products from the dairy. He is crying of lack of support from the government Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo who was then acting Permanent Secretary emphasized proper management to the farmers Gaseboiwe Peter May 2010
Page 1 and 2: Volume 40, No. 05 May 2010 “We Ca
Page 3 and 4: editor’s note VIVA MOA - ZONE 4A
Page 5: He said that growing SMMEs and ensu
Page 9 and 10: Botswana’s karakul renaissance Ar
Page 11 and 12: DEMONSTRATE OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIE
Page 13 and 14: Horticulture projects in Boteti sho
Page 15 and 16: LIVESTOCK AND MEAT INDUSTRIES ACT P
Page 17 and 18: B otswana College of A griculture T
Page 19 and 20: GOVERNMENT TO VACCINATE FOR MANGE D

Botswana's karakul renaissance - Ministry of Agriculture

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