09 May 2024

The head of the visiting delegation from Uganda, Mr Abed Bwanika has implored Botswana to continue the good work of improving the genetics and number of livestock in the country, especially cattle.

Speaking in an interview  on the sidelines of a tour his delegation had at the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination and Training Centre on Tuesday, Mr Bwanika, who is the Chairperson of Government Assurance Committee in the Parliament of Uganda opined that there is a lot that Africa and the whole world could learn from Botswana.

He pointed out that there was no doubt that the country had made strides in terms of taking deliberate decisions in investing in beef production.

Mr Bwanika said it was for that reason that Botswana was now classified as the best producer of beef in the whole world.

He stated that his delegation had learnt valuable lessons that they intend to implement in their country to revamp its cattle industry.

However Mr Bwanika cautioned against neglecting the indigenous breed for exotic cattle, saying that is the pride and joy of the country that marketed the local beef industry well over the years.

He said that since they had problems of controlling animal borne diseases in Uganda, they could use the strategy of Botswana of zoning the country according to disease prevalence.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Boitumelo Maseko stated that indigenous breeds would not be neglected.

She said government had deliberately kept pure breeds of such and also made sure that they bred Mosi for purposes of keeping local breed at Dikgatlhong ranch.

Ms Maseko also revealed that through the Thuo Letlotlo initiative, there was a package to assist farmers to breed indigenous breeds only.

“The reason why our beef is tastier is because we allow our animals to graze freely in natural pastures than giving them supplements all the time,” she said. The Deputy Speaker, Mr Pono Moatlhodi said such visits by foreign missions indicated that Botswana was doing something that is unique.

Mr Moatlhodi urged that Batswana should be enlightened more about the services that they could access from the centre because even though they are of high quality, the charges are very minimal and affordable to citizens. ENDS