16 Sep 2024

In a bid to revolutionise the agricultural landscape of Botswana, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao, has unveiled ambitious plans to open two new Artificial Insemination centres in Mahalapye and Nxaraga areas.

 

Officially launching the second AI centre at Impala Rural Training Centre, east of Francistown on Friday, Minister Molao said this initiative was aimed at enhancing livestock breeding practices across the country, ensuring improved genetic diversity and superior livestock quality.

 

He said with the establishment of the two new centres, Botswana was set to witness a significant boost in its livestock industry, paving the way for economic growth and sustainability. Mr Molao explained that the Ramatlabama National Artificial Insemination Laboratory and the facility at Impala Rural Training Centre have already laid the foundation for modernised breeding techniques in the country.

 

“These centres have not only facilitated improved breeding practices but have also empowered local farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance their livestock yields,” said Mr Molao. He stated that the new centres in Mahalapye and Nxaraga were poised to further amplify the breeding efforts, extending the reach of artificial insemination services to a wider demographic of farmers.

 

“By decentralising these facilities, the government aims to ensure equitable access to cutting-edge agricultural technologies, irrespective of geographic location,” said Mr Molao. He told the gathering, amongst them the second batch of 28 AI trainees, that government would continue to establish other centres across the country in areas such as Chobe district.

 

He said although there were 16 AI small centres across the country, they were under-utelised or some completely closed. He said training farmers on AI would help them to transform their kraals into hubs of innovation and efficiency.

 

“Through the power of AI, you have unlocked a world of endless possibilities,” Mr Molao said.

 

He appealed to the trainees to put their knowledge to good use and eradicate poverty, as agriculture has proved to be the backbone of the livelihoods of the rural community.

 

Mr Molao said with a strategic reduction in AI registration fees from P6 500 to P500. 00, government has cleared way for farmers to tap into this lucrative industry, becoming AI service providers and unlocking new revenue streams in the process.

 

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Boitumelo Mogome-Maseko said with strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation, Botswana’s agricultural sector was rapidly evolving into a beacon of progress and development.

 

Dr Mogome-Maseko said with the AI programme, the birth rate of Botswana cattle would increase from the current 56 percent to 85 percent. She said it was against this backdrop that the ministry of agriculture declared to reverse the trend through the AI and improve the country’s herd.

 

She indicated that the country’s take-off rate was small, saying the AI technology was also meant to increase the genetic merits of the livestock industry. In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Solomon Segopa of Matsiloje praised the commitment to empower local farmers,  which he said would lead to economic prosperity, and ensure food security for generations to come. He called on Batswana to rally behind the AI programme because it had some quick returns.

 

One of the trainees, Mr Gaborekwe Lufu said with the AI programme, government had taken a giant leap forward in fostering a thriving livestock breeding sector, setting the stage for a new era of opportunity.

 

“This is evidenced by the once prohibitive training fee for AI which has been slashed to a mere P500, a monumental move that signals the government’s commitment to encouraging the growth of AI mobile services as a viable business option for farmers,” said Mr Lufu.

 

He said whilst the initial training fee may have deterred many aspiring livestock breeders in the past, the new development opened a gateway to a lucrative industry that could revolutionalise cattle breeding practices and profitability. Ends