President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi has praised the Future Genetics committee for encouraging and supporting women to pursue farming as a business.
Speaking at the Future Genetics Agriculture Show and Auction in Kgagodi on Friday, President Masisi commended the members for involving women in their activities and highlighted the governments commitment to empowering women. He expressed a desire to see an inclusive approach in genetics trading, where women and people with disabilities could carve out a niche.
Future Genetics is a registered company comprising 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 for breeding programs to achieve optimal production. They also leverage technology to enhance production and frequently invite established breeders for mentorship.
Acknowledging their mission, Dr. Masisi called on Future Genetics to accelerate their efforts and explore international markets to generate foreign currency revenue. He expressed a wish for other countries to import livestock from Botswana and urged the farmers to produce quality livestock that could compete internationally.
He emphasized that these milestones could only be achieved if the farming community harnessed available technology to increase livestock herds and improve quality. President Masisi stated his intention to increase livestock herds, noting that while natural breeding programs could achieve this, using technology was wiser for optimal production. He explained that livestock farming would be more profitable if farmers used technology to maximize profits.
Technology expedites the reproduction cycle of animals, increasing the herd size within a short time, he said. Dr. Masisi discussed Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, reproductive technologies that facilitate the genetic improvement of livestock. These technologies enable genetically superior males to produce a larger number of highly productive offspring than natural breeding programs can achieve. He noted that embryo transfer offers advantages over natural service, including easier exchange of genetic material between countries and an increased number of offspring per female.
President Masisi also urged farmers to ensure efficient animal identification and traceability systems, which are crucial for market access and export requirements. He expressed his goal to transform the livestock sub-sector from agricultural rearing to manufacturing.
On other issues, President Masisi mentioned his recent official visit to Namibia, which aimed to scout for opportunities for Batswana that would transform their lives. The visit cemented bilateral relations and fostered cooperation in areas such as diamonds, road infrastructure, and agriculture.
He stressed that the success of the mutual agreement depends on the effective implementation by public servants and urged them to leave 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 constructing a dry port facility, making the country sea-linked. This move, he said, would facilitate progress in cross-border trade and support the import and export of commodities.
Meanwhile, the President expressed concern that meat dealers were benefiting more from livestock than farmers, noting that this practice needed correction.
