P93m set aside for Ramatlabama AI Centre upgrading

 

The government of Botswana bought cattle from the USA as part of its RESET and RECLAIM Agenda, the Minister of Agriculture (MoA), Fidelis Molao has said.

Through the RESET agenda the government identified Assisted Reproductive Technologies such as Artificial Insemination (AI) and Embryo Transfer, as technologies that can be used to improve and develop the local livestock sub-sector.

Speaking at the tour of the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Centre Molao said that the revised AI programme which was launched last year aims to address the challenges of declining national herd, as well as improving its genetic merit.

“Ministry of Agriculture was able to procure 12 200 foreign semen straws from USA and France during the 2022/2023 financial year at a cost of P 7.2 million while in the 2023/2024 financial year through our budget allocation under the Department of Animal Production, MoA has been able to procure 2000 from Switzerland at a cost of P100 000.00 Simmental beef semen straws and 2401 dairy sexed semen from Switzerland at P800 000.00”.

Molao explained that these purchases were a result of the revised AI programme that President Masisi launched on the 3rd of November 2022.

“Our laboratory has over the years been performing unsatisfactorily and its production capacity has been declining due to amongst other factors, the limited number of bulls,” Molao said, adding that it is government’s expectation that these imported bulls will alleviate the situation.

A budget of over P93 million has been approved for the upgrading of the Ramatlabama National AI Laboratory and Training Centre. The upgrade will include infrastructure and introducing Artificial Insemination in small stock, as well as Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer in both small stock and cattle. This project is expected to be completed by 31st March 2025.

About 8.4 million semen straws and 300 embryos per year, which is a major improvement compared to the current annual production of 22 500 semen straws per year when the upgrading is complete.

Molao assured Batswana that the price of locally tapped semen from these genetics will be much affordable for the benefit of all farmers, especially the smallholder farmers, thereby increasing our cattle herd and genetic merit.

Moreover, the government of Botswana has entered into a partnership with Texas A&M University. The minister said that the partnership will facilitate technical capacity building of “our people” in the areas of Advanced Reproductive Technologies to ensure optimum performance.

Molao said it is his hope that these animals will unlock business opportunities in the livestock sector and promote private sector participation in areas of stud breeding, commercial breeding, production germplasm, production and distribution of liquid nitrogen, Embryo transfer, and Artificial Insemination service providers and capacity building.

“In short it is an equaliser for every farming family like free education has been to all Batswana, rich and poor,” Molao said.

Molao also revealed that only 161 cattle were delivered to Botswana instead of 162, as the one that was left behind showed signs of a compromised immune system which would not stand a long strenuous journey.

He said as a result, they will receive semen straws equivalent to the price tag of one bull which is 7750 USD.