Gov't not on buying spree – Masisi
Larona Makhaiza | Tuesday May 14, 2024 11:17
This morning’s consignment (150 breeding dairy goats and 92 breeding beef cattle), which arrived at the Sir Seretse Khama Airport follows last year’s arrival of 161 live breeding cattle, which were imported from Texas, USA. Masisi indicated that it is not a ‘buying spree’ but rather a mission as a government and is determined to ramp up production and multiplication of the national herd of cattle. He said they are targeting a multiplication of cattle from 1.5 million to 3.5 million and small-stock (goats) from 1.2 million to four million by 2027.
With 25 million spent on purchasing the Texas cattle last year, Masisi pointed out that the procurement of dairy goats this time around shows government’s commitment towards improving all livestock breeds and not just focusing on beef cattle.
“The dairy goats we have procured are renowned for their typically long lactating and high milk yield coupled with their calm nature. It is my belief that the 150 dairy goats imported to Botswana will contribute significantly towards milk production in the country. All these genetically superior animals and germplasm are here to benefit you first and foremost. Dairy-procured goats and beef cattle are known to be best adapted to local conditions and have been proven,” Masisi emphasised.
Even though Masisi argued that government is not on a buying spree, he announced that government will soon buy dairy cattle from as far as Brazil to resuscitate the dairy industry. Additionally, he highlighted that investing in agriculture is the most sustainable way of improving the lives of Batswana, hence procuring the breeding animals.
The second consignment of the breeding livestock is expected to be ferried to Ramatlabama National Artificial Insemination Laboratory and Training Centre where they will join other imported breeding animals from last year.