15 Feb 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has requested officials of the Department of Veterinary Services to sensitise farmers about the importance of  livestock bolus.

The President explained that this would prevent a situation where farmers were not able to sell their animals because they did not have the device. Addressing residents of Toromoja on Thursday, he said government would continue with the use of bolus. 

The President was responding to complaints from residents that they were failing to sell their livestock as they were not inserted with bolus. Lt Gen. Khama regretted that a large number of cattle had not been inserted with bolus due to lack of evidence regarding ownership.

The chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC),  Mr Kaombona Kanani had complained that  veterinary officers seemed unable to assist farmers with the insertion of bolus.

Mr Kanani had also wanted clarification on whether government had stopped the purchasing of bolus in preparation for the introduction of ear tags.

However agriculture minister, Mr Christiaan De Graaff clarified that government had never stopped the purchase of bolus, adding that recently his ministry bought about 75 000 devices to be distributed throughout the country.

Mr De Graaff said last year, veterinary officers in the Boteti West area managed to insert 3 000 livestock with bolus. The minister also noted that a large number of cattle were not inserted  due to lack of evidence of ownership.

He said some of the livestock was not branded, some without ear marks while some had several brands.

Minister De Graaff said some farmers turned up with expired identity cards and as such their cattle could not be inserted with bolus, noting that some farmers sent herd boys who had no brand certificates or any form of proof in relation to ownership.

Residents were informed that his ministry had awarded a tender to some company to supply ear tags that would be tagged on cattle which had been already inserted with bolus, adding that the number on the ear tag would correspond to the one on the bolus.

One resident, Mr Sam Kanani said veterinary officers failed to deliver due to lack of transport and manpower. He said some officers also refused to use transport provided by farmers.

Minister De Graaff concurred with the residents on shortage of transport and manpower but indicated that the situation could not be taken as an excuse for their failure. He said Boteti West had a cattle population of 9 127 of which only 1 574 was inserted with bolus last year.

He said a further 4192 cattle were not inserted with bolus as there was lack of evidence of ownership.

For his part,  the area MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the bolus insertion campaign failed because veterinary officers arrived late at the cattle posts, and ended up not covering all cattle brought by farmers. Ends