Agrinews December 2012 - Ministry of Agriculture

Article: Keamogetse BoitshepoPhotos: Pius NkundaThe farming communityhappily welcomed the AnimalProduction Advisory Board as itcarries hopes to enhance livestockproduction industry in Botswana.After years of importing geneticmaterial and registering in the SouthAfrican Stud Book, farmers holdprospects of locally registering theirbreeders’ societies and schemes formonitoring different breeds.The board was recently inauguratedin Gaborone by the Assistant Ministerof Agriculture Oreeditse Molebatsi.Like its name insinuates the boardwill offer the Minister advisoryservices pertaining to developmentand improvement of the livestockindustry. This encompasses mattersrelating to priorities of research,development of farmed game andgenetic conservation.“This marks one of the mostimportant milestones in thedevelopment of the livestockindustry in this country,” Molebatsistated.Further Molebatsi said theformation of the board is compliantwith the Livestock Improvement Actwhich National Assembly passed inApril 2009. The Act was repealingthe Registration of Livestock Act,Cap 36:04 of 1921.The 10 membership board bydefault include Dr Phillemon Motsu,Director of Animal Production as itsex –officio member and Joyce Kapelea Chief Scientific Officer in theDepartment of Animal Productionas a Registrar. Other eight positionsin the board are occupied by DrLoftus Ndzinge as the chair personand Mr Willem Herbst as the ViseChairperson. Other members are DrPatrick Kgwatelala, Dr WameotsileMahabile, Dr Michael Flyman, MrMotshegetsi Senku, Stephen Ghanieand Fredrick Verreynne.Herbst who is also a dairy farmersays the formation of the board is anopen door and a life reward for thefarming community.“This means the Minister is readyto give ear to those that are on theground level. As such issues we havebeen meddling with for a long timewill be addressed,” confessed Herbst.According to herbst the farmingcommunity will finally reap rewardsfor their labor to develop betterbreeds for local conditions. Thiscould result in another local breedin no time as farmers’ efforts tobreed have went unrecognized andunsupported, he said.Herbst also celebrated the fact thatthe board combined both farmersand experts in the field. He saidthe combined force is strategic inthat there is will be a balance ofinformation sharing.December 2012 18