07 Jul 2024

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has lauded Future Genetics committee for encouraging and supporting women to do farming as business.

Speaking during  Future Genetics Agriculture Show and Auction in Kgagodi on Friday, President Masisi further commended the members for involving women in their activities, noting government’s commitment to empower women.

He expressed wish to see an inclusive trading approach in genetics where women and people with disability would cut a niche.

Future Genetics is a registered company comprising of seven members from different areas in the Central District who are breeders.

The farmers use their platform to share information and ideas on best practices of breeding programmes for optimum production.

They also use technology to optimise production and often invite established breeders for mentorship.

Taking note of their mission,  Dr Masisi, therefore, called upon Future Genetics to accelerate their efforts and explore international markets to generate revenue in foreign currency.

He expressed wish for other countries to import livestock from Botswana and thus implored the farmers to put more effort in ensuring that they produced quality that could compete internationally.

He, however, emphasised that the milestones could only be achieved if the farming community harnessed technology at their disposal to increase livestock herd and improve quality.

President Masisi said it was his intention to increase livestock herd noting that although such could be done through natural service breeding programmes, it was wise to use technology for optimal production. 

He said livestock would make more business sense if  farmers used technology for maximum profits.

“Technology expedited the reproduction cycle of animals thus increasing the number of herd within a short space of time,” he said.

Dr Masisi talked about Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, reproductive technologies that are used to facilitate the genetic improvement of livestock .

Under this technology, genetical superior males produce a larger number of highly productive offsprings than it  can occur with natural service breeding programmes, he said.

He also noted that the embryo transfer advantages outclassed those of natural service in that it was easier, and  facilitated a more rapid system of exchange of genetic material between countries while it also increased the number of offsprings per female.

President Masisi also implored farmers to ensure efficient animal identification and traceability systems, as they were crucial for market access and a requirement for the market export.

He said his goal was to transform livestock sub-sector from agricultural rearing to manufacturing.

On other issues, President Masisi said his recent official visit to Namibia was meant to scout for opportunities for Batswana that would transform their lives

He said the visit cemented bilateral relations and forged cooperations in the areas of diamonds, roads infrastructure and agriculture, among others.

Therefore, he said the success of the mutual agreement rested upon successful implementation by public servants thus imploring them to move at full throttle to ensure they left no stone unturned.

President Masisi shared that the Namibian government had donated a piece of land to Botswana at the port of Walvis Bay for the construction of a dry port facility  that would make the country sea linked. 

He said the move would facilitate the country to make good progress in cross-border trade, adding that the move was not only a gesture of goodwill but also meant to facilitate the import and export of commodities.

Meanwhile, the President expressed concern that meat dealers were benefiting from livestock more than farmers, noting such a practice needed to be corrected. Ends